pugnacious /pʌɡˈneɪ.ʃəs/ adjective1 •Naturally aggressive or hostile; combative; belligerent; bellicose.Not that the doctor was a bully, or even pugnacious, in the usual sense of the word; he had no disposition to provoke a fight, no propense love of quarrelling. — 1858 formsmore pugnacious · most pugnacious