bare-knuckled
Without boxing gloves
Bare-knuckled describes fighting or boxing done without gloves, with fists unprotected.
This literal sense extends to any confrontation or competition that is rough, unrestrained, and without the usual civilities: bare-knuckled politics, a bare-knuckled negotiating style.
The variant bare-knuckle functions identically as both adjective and adverb.
Combat sport using fists
- pugilismArt of fighting with fists
- fisticuffsHand-to-hand combat
- brawlingFighting noisily in public
- sparringPractice combat training
prizefighting · slugfest · melee · scuffle · bout · punch-up · ringside · contender
Inclined toward hostile encounters
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- belligerentHostile and eager to clash
- pugnaciousInclined to quarrel
- hostileAggressively unfriendly
antagonistic · truculent · ferocious · fierce · provocative · contentious · quarrelsome · scrappy
Able to recover quickly
- hardyAble to endure difficulty
- ruggedTough and uneven
- grittyCoarse or courageous
- hardscrabbleMarked by poverty, toil
rough-hewn · weathered · battle-scarred · callused · leathery · steely · iron-fisted · hard-bitten
Without embellishment or coating
- unfilteredNot passed through screen
- bluntDull or tactlessly direct
- candidHonest and direct
- directUndeviating or to guide
frank · brutal · stark · visceral · primal · unpolished · rough · no-holds-barred
Lacking any apprehension
- courageousShowing bravery under threat
- undauntedCourageously persistent despite difficulty
- boldCourageous and daring
- intrepidResolutely without fear
unblinking · unwavering · resolute · determined · gutsy · audacious · dauntless · unhesitating
Out in open
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- unguardedWithout protection or caution
- unshieldedLacking protective barrier
- unpaddedWithout protective stuffing
defenseless · risky · perilous · skin-to-skin
boxing
Combat sport using fists
- pugilismArt of fighting with fists
- fisticuffsHand-to-hand combat
- brawlingFighting noisily in public
sparring · prizefighting · slugfest · melee · scuffle · bout · punch-up · ringside · contender · knockout
confrontational
Inclined toward hostile encounters
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- belligerentHostile and eager to clash
- pugnaciousInclined to quarrel
hostile · antagonistic · truculent · ferocious · fierce · provocative · contentious · quarrelsome · scrappy · ruthless
resilient
Able to recover quickly
hardscrabble · rough-hewn · weathered · battle-scarred · callused · leathery · steely · iron-fisted · hard-bitten · bruising
unvarnished
Without embellishment or coating
- unfilteredNot passed through screen
- bluntDull or tactlessly direct
- candidHonest and direct
direct · frank · brutal · stark · visceral · primal · unpolished · rough · no-holds-barred · unsparing
fearless
Lacking any apprehension
- courageousShowing bravery under threat
- undauntedCourageously persistent despite difficulty
- boldCourageous and daring
intrepid · unblinking · unwavering · resolute · determined · gutsy · audacious · dauntless · unhesitating · steeled
exposed
Out in open
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- unguardedWithout protection or caution
- unshieldedLacking protective barrier
unpadded · defenseless · risky · perilous · skin-to-skin
bare-knuckledkid-gloves
Soft leather hand coverings
kid-glove · gentle · restrained · diplomatic · tactful
bare-knuckledregulated
Made to follow rules
sanctioned · by-the-book · rule-bound · gentlemanly · sportsmanlike
bare, knuckle, knuckles, knuckled, bared, barer, barest, barely, bareness