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Pugnacious vs Vexatious - What's the difference?

pugnacious | vexatious |

As adjectives the difference between pugnacious and vexatious

is that pugnacious is naturally aggressive or hostile; combative; belligerent while vexatious is causing vexation or annoyance; teasing; troublesome.

pugnacious

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Naturally aggressive or hostile; combative; belligerent.
  • * 1858 , (Anthony Trollope), Dr Thorne , ch. 3:
    • 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.
  • * 1904 , (Jack London), The Sea Wolf , ch. 15:
    • As he made the demand he spat out a mouthful of blood and teeth and shoved his pugnacious face close to Oofty-Oofty.
  • * 2003 , (Ken Follett), Hornet Flight , ISBN 9780451210746, pp. 249-250:
    • In the face of bad news Churchill normally became even more pugnacious , always wanting to respond to defeat by going on the attack.
  • * '>citation

    • Synonyms

    * See also

    Related terms

    * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) ((l))

    vexatious

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Causing vexation or annoyance; teasing; troublesome.
  • (archaic) Full of trouble or disquiet; harassed; distressed; annoyed; vexed.
  • * Sir K. Digby
    • He leads a vexatious life.
  • (legal, of an action) Commenced for the purpose of giving trouble, without due cause.
    • a vexatious lawsuit

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * vexatious suit * vexatiously * vexatiousness

    Related terms

    * vex * vexation

    References

    * *