pugnacity
pug-NASS-ih-tee
/pʌɡˈnæs.ə.ti/
an inclination or readiness to fight.
Pugnacity specifically suggests a 'fist-fighting' spirit. It is often used to describe someone who is naturally feisty and enjoys a good scrap, whether physical or verbal.
The story behind the word. The root is the Latin 'pugnus', meaning 'fist'. This is the same root that gives us 'pugilist' (a boxer). A pugnacious person is someone who is metaphorically—or literally—always holding their fists up.
Word relationships
- belligerence: Belligerence is warlike; pugnacity is more about the individual desire to punch or fight.
- contentiousness: Contentiousness is a tendency to argue; pugnacity is a more aggressive desire to fight.
- pacifism: Pacifism is the belief that war and violence are unjustifiable.
- mildness: Mildness is a lack of intensity or harshness.
Commonly confused with
- repugnant: Both share the root 'pugnare' (to fight), but repugnant means 'fighting against your senses' (disgusting), while pugnacity is the 'desire to fight'.
Word family
- pugnacious (adjective): eager to fight
- impugn (verb): to call into question (literally 'to fight against')
Collocations
- natural pugnacity
- intellectual pugnacity
- dogged pugnacity
Example sentences
- "His pugnacity served him well in the political trenches of the 1920s." Describing a historical figure known for being feisty.
- "Despite its small size, the terrier was known for its pugnacity." A description of a small but fierce dog.
Memory hook
Think of a 'pug' dog. They are small but often very 'pug-nacious' and ready to bark at much larger dogs. Pugnus = Fist. Pugnacity = Fist-readiness.
When not to use
Avoid using this for a quiet, plotting hatred; pugnacity is about the love of the fight itself.
Fun facts
- The 'pug' in 'pugnacity' is the same 'pug' in 'repugnant' and 'expunge' (to fight out/strike out).
Related words
Explore more words
truculent, plucky, altercation, Pertinacious, Tenacious, tenacity
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