gladiatorial

adjective

Definition of gladiatorialnext
as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight not a reasoned discussion but a shouting match between gladiatorial pundits from opposite ends of the political spectrum

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gladiatorial
  1. aggressive
  2. militant
  3. contentious
  4. hostile
  5. agonistic
  6. warlike
  7. combative
Adjective
  • Kristin talks with peers, peers’ parents, and every staff member, explaining how the dog is trained, how to behave around it, and soothing any worries regarding potential aggressive actions.
    Ethan Stone, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Atlanta’s aggressive defense disrupted the Knicks’ rhythm early and often.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 12 Dec. 2024
Definition of aggressive
Adjective
  • In September 2015, Russia intervened on the side of Assad, and with support from Iran and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah loyalists, succeeded in recapturing most non-Kurdish areas of Syria, with rebels pinned into a small enclave around Idlib in the northwest of the country.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024
  • But Western hopes of a more moderate Syria sank when the new leader promptly maintained his country’s traditional ties with militant groups, such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN, 8 Dec. 2024
Definition of militant
Adjective
  • If the appeals court ruling stands, the next chapter in the TikTok saga will likely unfold in the Supreme Court, where legal experts predict a contentious debate over the intersection of national security and free speech.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024
  • But Dead & Company have not shied from using their touring to platform more contentious causes.
    Eric Renner Brown, Billboard, 5 Dec. 2024
Definition of contentious
Adjective
  • In story mode, there are a few other people to find on the island, some of whom will be helpful and others hostile.
    Jason Bennett, arkansasonline.com, 15 Dec. 2024
  • In June, a former employee sued Neuralink and accused it of hosting a discriminatory and hostile work environment, claiming that they had not been given proper protective gear while working with the monkeys.
    William Gavin, Quartz, 13 Dec. 2024
Definition of hostile
Adjective
  • The kitchen remains bloody and agonistic, demanding the preparation of yet another family meal.
    E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 14 July 2023
  • The agonistic, Faulknerian circumstances fill the house with awful silences.
    Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Dec. 2022
Definition of agonistic
Adjective
  • Some characters die violently in a warlike atmosphere, and the remaining ones struggle with their losses.
    Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 12 July 2024
  • China is constantly searching for opportunities to take bits of territory and catch its opponent by surprise, without taking overt warlike actions.
    Brahma Chellaney, Foreign Affairs, 2 Apr. 2021
Definition of warlike
Adjective
  • Jimmy Carter issued a blanket amnesty to Vietnam war draft evaders, following the end of the combative international struggle.
    Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
  • President-elect Donald Trump and many of his allies have had a combative relationship with tech giants –— repeatedly accusing them of having too much power and sometimes wielding it in ways that negatively impacted him.
    Clare Duffy, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024
Definition of combative
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near gladiatorial

gladiator

gladiatorial

gladiators

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Cite this Entry

“Gladiatorial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gladiatorial. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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