pug

noun

Definition of pugnext
as in boxer
one that engages in the sport of fighting with the fists a retired pug with battered ears and swollen knuckles

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pug Short-muzzle breeds like pugs and bull dogs are at higher risk of heat stroke, as are older dogs, overweight dogs and dogs with medical conditions, according to Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine. — Eva Flowe june 22, Charlotte Observer, 22 June 2026 Anti-Cruelty Society Bird is a chihuahua short coat and pug mix and Dee is a German Shepherd, the Anti-Cruelty Society said. — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 8 May 2026 The black pug, named Shadow, was found trapped at the bottom of a deep hole at a construction site in Northern California on June 16, according to the Marin County Fire Department. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 19 June 2026 More specifically, Wellhouse brings in the boxy, pug-nosed Wake micro-van produced by Daihatsu between 2014 and 2022 and also badged as the Toyota Pixis Mega. — C.c. Weiss may 26, New Atlas, 26 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for pug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pug
  1. boxer
  2. fighter
Noun
  • Day-Lewis immersed himself in the sport for more than two years, going 350 rounds with his trainer, former Irish professional boxer Barry McGuigan.
    — Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
  • Well-built for a man of 60, with a scar across his upper abdomen, Weakfall was wearing nothing but royal blue boxer-briefs.
    — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 30 June 2026
Definition of boxer
Noun
  • Unfortunately, some of Ukraine’s military leaders—who were raised under Soviet doctrine—are doing just this, using available fighter aircraft as simply airborne artillery.
    — David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Red wavelengths are typically marketed for anti-aging benefits, while blue is positioned as an acne fighter.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of fighter

Browse Nearby Words

puffy
pug
pugilist
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pug. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on pug

Nglish: Translation of pug for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pug

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All