adj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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UK, US:/pʌɡˈneɪ.ʃəs/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -eɪʃəs
CMU ARPABET:P AH0 G N AE1 SH IH0 S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Naturally aggressive or hostile; combative; belligerent; bellicose.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adjective satellite
Meaning 2
ready and able to resort to force or violence- Herman Melville
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
pugnacious spirits...lamented that there was so little prospect of an exhilarating disturbance
they were rough and determined fighting men
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: rough
Antonyms: none provided
3
adjective satellite
Meaning 3
tough and callous by virtue of experience
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: hard-bitten, hard-boiled
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From the stem of Latin pugnāx + -ous, from pugnō (“to fight”), from pugnus (“fist”). By surface analysis, Latin pugn- + -acious.
Across languages
Translations
42 source translations are retained for this English entry.
