pugnacious

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. adjective tough and callous by virtue of experience
  2. adjective ready and able to resort to force or violence; - Herman Melville

Etymology

From the stem of Latin pugnāx + -ous, from pugnō (“to fight”), from pugnus (“fist”). By surface analysis, Latin pugn- + -acious.

In classic literature

Synonyms

hard-bitten, hard-boiled

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