as in boxer
one that engages in the sport of fighting with the fists
the two punch-drunk gladiators stumbled to their corners
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Recent Examples of gladiator
The sequel stars Paul Mescal as Lucius, son of the Roman general Maximus and heir to an emperor, who through a twist of fate is enslaved as a gladiator.
—
Lisa De Los Reyes, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Dec. 2024
Genetic Analysis of Viking Settlers Challenges Historical Saga Migration Back to Scandinavia
The researchers uncovered one person — possibly a Roman soldier or slave gladiator — living in Britain around 100 A.D. to 300 A.D. who had 25 percent Scandinavian ancestry.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 1 Jan. 2025
There were gladiator movies before Spartacus, and there have been many since, but Stanley Kubrick’s epic is undoubtedly the archetypal gladiator movie.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2024
The figure appears to be left-handed, suggesting it was based on a real-life fighter, as the Romans believed left-handedness was unlucky and likely wouldn’t have given this trait to a generic gladiator.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gladiator 
Lisa De Los Reyes, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Dec. 2024
Genetic Analysis of Viking Settlers Challenges Historical Saga Migration Back to Scandinavia
The researchers uncovered one person — possibly a Roman soldier or slave gladiator — living in Britain around 100 A.D. to 300 A.D. who had 25 percent Scandinavian ancestry.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 1 Jan. 2025
There were gladiator movies before Spartacus, and there have been many since, but Stanley Kubrick’s epic is undoubtedly the archetypal gladiator movie.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2024
The figure appears to be left-handed, suggesting it was based on a real-life fighter, as the Romans believed left-handedness was unlucky and likely wouldn’t have given this trait to a generic gladiator.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gladiator
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Cite this Entry
“Gladiator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gladiator. Accessed 18 Feb. 2025.
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