adjective
/ˈbeɚˈnʌkəl/ also bare-knuckled /ˈbeɚˈnʌkəld/ or bare-knuckles /ˈbeɚˈnʌkəlz/ always used before a noun
without boxing gloves
a bare-knuckles approach to doing business [=a very tough and aggressive approach to doing business]
bare-knuckle politics