How to Use pugilist in a Sentence

pugilist

noun
  • But a patient pugilist values the muffled thud of shots to the resolve.
    — Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 5 May 2026
  • Stockier, too, with a pugilist’s build, and muscles that looked earned rather than sculpted in a gym.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2021
  • The wreck ejected the world champion pugilist, who was not wearing a seat belt, police said.
    — Eliott C. McLaughlin, CNN, 10 Oct. 2019
  • You’re attacked by a giant wolf, pugilist mushrooms, mephitic swamps, and a sword-wielding spider.
    — Simon Parkin, The New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2022
  • To his credit, the bloodied Yankees fan fought back much better than most pugilists who give up the high ground.
    — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
  • One of the most amusing finds is the short story about Fitzgerald as a fictional pugilist.
    — Robert K. Elder, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2022
  • The other Parkinson's pugilists in the class salute his effort by clapping their boxing gloves.
    — David Holahan, courant.com, 7 July 2017
  • The Antonoff of the early Bleachers albums was pop’s pint-sized pugilist, muscling his way to the front of the pack.
    — Walden Green, Pitchfork, 30 May 2026
  • The fitness center even has a full-size boxing ring where a champion pugilist offers private lessons.
    — Caitlin Gunther, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Mar. 2025
  • The fitness center even has a full-size boxing ring where a champion pugilist offers private lessons.
    — Caitlin Gunther, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Mar. 2025
  • And, in the center of all this activity stood boxing rings with young pugilists training or exchanging blows while round buzzers buzzed on cue.
    — Rubén Rosario, Twin Cities, 15 Nov. 2019
  • In terms of skippers, our Frank Selee might rightly be considered more philosopher than a pugilist.
    — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 6 May 2026
  • He was known as a pugilist with the resources to back risky projects, bringing more new plays to Broadway each season than any contemporary.
    — Lee Seymour, Forbes, 17 Apr. 2021
  • The pugilists completed all eight rounds, sparking some grumbling online that Paul was holding back against Tyson in some way.
    — Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Nov. 2024
  • Cornyn, as always, has been less of a pugilist but no less adamant that curbing access to firearms for law-abiding Americans is a nonstarter.
    — Todd J. Gillman and Joseph Morton, Dallas News, 6 June 2022
  • Bucky appears in that novel as a homicide detective and pugilist, who takes part in a notably bloody bout with another detective.
    — Stuart Franklin, The New York Review of Books, 10 Mar. 2020
  • Bannon’s love of verbal combat, plus his habit of reading the occasional book, have lent him him a reputation as the thinking man’s pugilist.
    — Benjamin Hart, Daily Intelligencer, 14 Oct. 2017
  • The fiery old pugilist Harry Reid, who always proved a willing sparring partner, retired from the Senate last month.
    — Abigail Tracy, The Hive, 22 Feb. 2017
  • Armed with a thick Boston accent and a direct and brusque nature, Baker is a former union shop steward known as a rhetorical pugilist.
    — Danny McDonald, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Apr. 2023
  • Before his coaching career, Berube was a bona fide pugilist and still ranks seventh all-time in NHL penalty minutes.
    — Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Jake Paul, pugilist and popular digital influencer, is throwing his hat into the wagering world.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 8 Aug. 2022
  • Carbajal does some dapper clowning around and Morales-Woolery is a very funny faux pugilist but the comedy never quite catches fire.
    — Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 23 Sep. 2024
  • Over the last couple of years, Residente has emerged as an industry pugilist, willing to fight against the commercial forces that can overpower the music scene.
    — Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024
  • The 36-year-old Irish martial arts fighter announced his intentions to take on the 29-year-old pugilist Tuesday.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Bloom is the center of the drama, his handsome leading man visage transformed by prosthetics that give him a broken nose, cauliflower ears, and a pugilist's demeanor.
    — Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 6 Sep. 2024
  • She is next slated to appear in the boxing drama Christy, based on the life of real professional pugilist Christy Martin.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Like a savvy veteran pugilist who forever has that dangerous jab, Lampley still gets fired up talking about the sport and can’t hide his excitement over being back around it.
    — Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Sep. 2023
  • Words were exchanged, Armenta got out of his vehicle and the pugilists went after each other until conditioning became a factor.
    — John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2019
  • Meanwhile, heavyweight Ross Johnston has been more than a pugilist for the Ducks, posting career highs in assists and points before the halfway mark of the campaign.
    — Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 21 Dec. 2025
  • Six-time major champion, golf icon and media pugilist Phil Mickelson made the cut on the number, shot even-par 72 and stayed at 3 under with no hope of winning.
    — Carlos Monarrez, Detroit Free Press, 3 July 2021

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pugilist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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