Gladiator
Ancient Roman fighter
A gladiator was a professional fighter in ancient Rome who battled other gladiators, wild animals, or condemned criminals for public entertainment in arenas like the Colosseum.
Most were slaves, prisoners of war, or criminals, though some free men chose the profession for glory or pay.
The word now applies figuratively to anyone engaged in fierce public combat: corporate gladiators battling for market share, political gladiators facing off in debate.
Venue for contests
- ColosseumFlavian arena in Rome
- RomeItaly's capital city
- combatArmed hostile engagement
- swordHilted fighting blade
shield · Spartacus · trident · munera · amphitheater · sandal · greaves · gladius
Large public gathering
- roarLoud, deep animal cry
- cheersCasual toast or farewell
- emperorMale ruler of empire
- thumbsShortest manual digits
entertainment · glory · fame · spectator · games · sand · pageantry · costume
One held by force
- slaveOwned human, forced laborer
- prisonerConfined criminal detainee
- condemnedOfficially declared unfit
- bondageInvoluntary subjugation to another
servitude · rebellion · uprising · freedom · chains · escape · revolt · owned
Physical or verbal conflict
- duelPrearranged one-on-one combat
- battleArmed military engagement
- opponentOne who contends against
- victoryDefeating an opponent
defeat · death · blood · wound · strike · parry · thrust · grapple
arena
Venue for contests
sword · shield · Spartacus · trident · munera · amphitheater · sandal · greaves · gladius · venatio
crowd
Large public gathering
thumbs · entertainment · glory · fame · spectator · games · sand · pageantry · costume · procession
captive
One held by force
- slaveOwned human, forced laborer
- prisonerConfined criminal detainee
- condemnedOfficially declared unfit
bondage · servitude · rebellion · uprising · freedom · chains · escape · revolt · owned · trained
fight
Physical or verbal conflict
victory · defeat · death · blood · wound · strike · parry · thrust · grapple · kill
Maximus
Latin for greatest
Ridley · revenge · general · betrayal · epic · Oscar · soundtrack · Zimmer · sequel · Phoenix
warrior
One skilled in combat
- fighterOne who engages in combat
- championTop competitor, or advocate
- competitorOne striving against others
battler · contender · combatant · crusader · defender · advocate · scrapper · underdog · survivor · rival
- blockbustersAvengers, Harry Potter, Finding Nemo, The Dark Knight, Spider-Man
- Oscar WinnersTitanic, Forrest Gump, The Godfather, Schindler's List, Casablanca
- Ridley ScottBlade Runner, Thelma and Louise, Black Hawk Down, The Martian, Prometheus
- Roman FictionBen-Hur, Spartacus, Pompeii, Roma, Centurion
- emperors in filmNapoleon, Caesar, Augustus, Nero, Caligula
- moviesblockbuster, film, Titanic, films, Jurassic Park
Gladiatorsoldier
Armed forces member
legionary · pacifist · noncombatant · warrior · conscientious objector
Gladiatoremperor
Male ruler of empire
patrician · senator · master · slave owner · Roman emperor
- Roman gladiatorsAncient fighters in arenas
- gladiatorial combatArmed fighters battling publicly
- gladiator sandalsStrappy flat shoes with lacing
- gladiatorial gamesAncient Roman combat entertainment
- gladiator fightsAncient Roman combat spectacles
- gladiator costumeRoman combatant attire