How to Use combative in a Sentence

combative

adjective

• When the police tried to arrest him, he became combative.
• Williams then became combative toward his 28-year-old friend.
  — David Aaro, Fox News, 6 Aug. 2021
• Bauer has been combative with the judge presiding over her case and claimed the court has no authority over her.
  — Michael Kunzelman, ajc, 28 July 2021
• Who is the audience for some of these more combative pronouncements?
  — Tripti Lahiri, Quartz, 2 Sep. 2021
• Hayes got combative with cops and a fight broke out ... with the ex-Texas Longhorns star getting tased in the middle of the scuffle.
  — Dave Clark, The Enquirer, 29 July 2021
• Neither of them are combative or power-hungry enough for this quarrel to come across even slightly entertaining.
  — Kyndall Cunningham, Vulture, 15 July 2021
• Apple issued a statement Wednesday that conveyed the same basic message in a less combative way.
  — Jon Brodkin, Wired, 14 Aug. 2021
• Caraway, at times combative and evasive, changed the subject when asked about his various questionable dealings while in office.
  — Kevin Krause, Dallas News, 15 July 2021
• The couple reconvened in Thurston’s hotel room the next day for another talk, in which Grippo was more combative with his words.
  — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 9 Aug. 2021
• Not surprisingly, the members were often combative, and the group's lineup had many changes throughout its history.
  — NBC News, 27 July 2021
• Her combative style, no surprise to those who follow her, is evidence of how competitive the nomination race will be if Donald Trump stays on the sidelines.
  — Stephen Groves, Star Tribune, 17 July 2021
• The officers not only used excessive force but also failed to de-escalate by first talking to Quinto, who was never combative, Burris said.
  — NBC News, 10 Aug. 2021
• Hamby’s time on the board got off to a combative start.
  — Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 20 Nov. 2023
• These moves have left a lot of union members in a combative mood.
  — Brent Lang, Variety, 8 Feb. 2023
• The last time Pat saw Ron, there was none of the fire and brimstone of his more combative moments.
  — Max Olesker, Longreads, 13 July 2023
• The tenor in the union hall, however, was far more combative.
  — Jennifer Gonnerman, The New Yorker, 9 Jan. 2023
• Which age groups are most amenable to in-person work, and which are most combative?
  — Jane Thier, Fortune, 16 May 2024
• This is less combative but requires you to be always on the run.
  — Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2021
• Yet his remarks, while combative, did not appear to close the door on a deal.
  — Ellen Knickmeyer, arkansasonline.com, 25 July 2024
• By the end of the season, he was being booed by the Lakers fans and became combative with the media.
  — Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2022
• Perhaps some of these younger toughs will yet have time to find less combative ways to rise in status.
  — Susan Pinker, WSJ, 5 May 2022
• And its combative tone seemed intended to strike a nerve.
  — Rachyl Jones, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2023
• Fain, elected president of the union this spring, has been the UAW’s most combative leader in years.
  — Lauren Kaori Gurley, Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2023
• At times, Vance and his staff have been more directly combative with the media.
  — Freddy Brewster, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2022
• For Chiuri, these three women are a real-life version of Valkyries, the combative Norse deities who served the god Odin.
  — Allyson Portee, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Feb. 2023
• While the flight crew was retrieving Narcan from the back of the plane, Burch became combative, the affidavit said.
  — Anchorage Daily News, 27 June 2023
• Porsche boss Oliver Blume is the new boss, with a less combative management style.
  — David Meyer, Fortune, 25 July 2022
• Peter had declined rapidly in the last few months and had been manic and combative.
  — Lori Riley, courant.com, 27 Dec. 2021
• The combative Frenchman had taken a hard line against online giants and clashed with Musk in a series of high-profile spats.
  — Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune Europe, 25 Sep. 2024
• Biden tried to make up for that ground against Ryan, appearing engaged, energetic and combative.
  — Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 30 Sep. 2024

Last Updated: 16 Nov 2024