rhizoverbBeta
DictionarypugnacityEagerness to fight
noun

pugnacity

pug-NAS-uh-tee/pʌɡˈnæsəti/

Readiness or eagerness to fight or argue.

The woman's repeated confrontations reveal pugnacity even toward a nonthreatening companion.

Two compact, text-free vignettes show the same woman repeatedly initiating confrontation with the same nonthreatening man: squaring up with clenched fists outdoors, then aggressively leaning across a tabletop during a board game.
Etymology
pugnacLatincombative
+ityLatinquality or state

The Latin adjective meant “combative” and came from a verb for fighting, especially with the fists. Pugnacity names that fighting disposition, extended to a readiness to argue.

More examples

  • The boxer's pugnacity is obvious before the first bell.
  • The lawyer's pugnacity makes settlement negotiations difficult.
  • His pugnacity often gets him into fights at school.

Forms

pugnacious adjective — Eager to fight or argue.

Similar words

combativeness
Emphasizes a tendency to challenge or oppose other people.
belligerence
Emphasizes openly hostile behavior rather than readiness to fight.