variants
also bare-knuckled
or bare-knuckles
as in gladiatorial
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bare-knuckle
Adjective
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And finally, Las Vegas beefed up its offensive line with two more third-round picks in Texas Tech guard Caleb Rogers and William & Mary tackle Charles Grant, both of whom are physical, in-your-face blockers.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025 -
My research is admittedly spotty, but the cinema of in-your-face obstetrics has always felt like a primarily European art-film phenomenon.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Despite this, the sport has a cultural history, especially among those who appreciate the aesthetic and combative qualities of the fish.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
3 May 2025
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Its combative response is a blunt sign of the administration’s intention to double down and defy the courts.—
Natalie Proulx,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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By then, though, Orbán was governing as a pugnacious ultranationalist.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
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The past three years have seen Eddie Howe and his staff transform them into one of the more pugnacious and potent threats in the Premier League.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Elon Musk embodies it in all its brash, take-no-prisoners glory.—
Leisse Wilcox,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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And no one can remain beautiful, in the same way, forever, though Kilmer’s mischievous, take-no-prisoners smile hadn’t changed much.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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He’s paired, in dance and as a love interest, with a belligerent Parisian principal, Gabin Roux (Ivan du Pontavice).—
Judy Berman,
Time,
23 Apr. 2025
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This term around, Trump has spoken in belligerent tones.—
Jay Nordlinger,
National Review,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This is a blood-and-guts medical-show model, in which everything teeters on the brink of catastrophe at all times and the doctors are adrenaline junkies approximately one shift away from a complete mental breakdown.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
3 Apr. 2025
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That realization elevates the film’s campy blood-and-guts from gore to gut-punch.—
Gráinne O'Hara Belluomo,
WWD,
1 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The Houthis have not claimed responsibility for the latest missile, but a spokesman for the militant group has said previous launches targeted military facilities in Israel.—
Tamar Michaelis,
CNN Money,
4 May 2025
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India may also take the stronger step of striking militant groups in Pakistan to satisfy the public’s demand for action.—
Michael Kugelman,
Time,
3 May 2025
Adjective
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Polls conducted over decades show that Americans fear a leader who is bellicose or too tough.—
Karlyn Bowman,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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While rejecting his successor George Gascón’s move to support a resentencing of the brothers, plus dashing their hopes for a new trial in recent weeks, Hochman today made a point outside the courthouse of trying to tone down his previous bellicose stance.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
17 Apr. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Bare-knuckle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bare-knuckle. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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