Thesaurus results for GLADIATORS

gladiators

noun

plural of gladiator

as in boxers

one that engages in the sport of fighting with the fists the two punch-drunk gladiators stumbled to their corners

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of gladiators The family said the diagnosis likely stems from his racing career — one in which drivers crushed bumpers and raced like gladiators without the safety protections found in the sport now. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 24 Sep. 2026 Rome — Rome’s ancient Colosseum, where gladiators were once gored by wild animals to the delight of cheering crowds, has never exactly been associated with safety. — Antonia Mortensen, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026 This pair has a subtle gladiator-like design (ICYMI, gladiators are back), with straps wrapping slightly up the ankle. — Anna Traver, InStyle, 16 Aug. 2026 The Greeks branded their slaves; the Romans tattooed their gladiators. — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 She was seen Monday in New York wearing a plunging archival Alberta Ferretti minidress and Sophia Webster heeled gladiators. — Tiffany Kelly, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026 Protected by the masks, the gladiators assume a secret identity and become national symbols. — ABC News, 1 July 2026 Roman emperors used gladiators to do just that. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 June 2026 Thus, in a moment celebrated by the poet Martial in his Liber de Spectaculis, the emperor Titus freed two gladiators on the opening day of the Colosseum. — Cullen Murphy, The Atlantic, 13 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gladiators

Noun

Russ has a solid roster of people from different stretches of Tyson’s life, from childhood friends to gym partners to follow boxers to family members to several of the women who didn’t divorce him or accuse him of rape.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026
In addition, there's a killer-looking dark apocalypse comedy and a docuseries about one of the most famous boxers of all time.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of boxers

Noun

Both Chun-Li and her boss have ulterior motives, Bison seeking to exploit the fighters’ powers for his own nefarious end and Chun-Li secretly an Interpol agent seeking to take Bison down for having murdered her father.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
What started as a capture and extraction mission turned into hell on Earth after multiple helicopters were hit by Somalia fighters.

— David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of fighters

Browse Nearby Words

gladiatorial

gladiators

gladly

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Gladiators.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gladiators. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of gladiators

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes