as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
channeling his naturally combative impulses into sports
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 combative
Do Democrats want a combative party leader or someone more tactical and engaged with current voter trends?
—
David Paleologos, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2025
During a combative Republican primary for governor, Kehoe promised steady leadership and a measured tone, contrasting himself with the more aggressive rhetoric of his major rivals, state Sen. Bill Eigel and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 13 Jan. 2025
Canada: Pierre Poilievre, a combative populist politician, is the favorite to become the country’s next leader.
—Natasha Frost, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Incompatible partners, on harder days, may consistently feel resentful, combative or simply annoyed in one another’s presence.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for combative 
David Paleologos, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2025
During a combative Republican primary for governor, Kehoe promised steady leadership and a measured tone, contrasting himself with the more aggressive rhetoric of his major rivals, state Sen. Bill Eigel and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 13 Jan. 2025
Canada: Pierre Poilievre, a combative populist politician, is the favorite to become the country’s next leader.
—Natasha Frost, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Incompatible partners, on harder days, may consistently feel resentful, combative or simply annoyed in one another’s presence.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for combative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combative
Adjective
-
Diagnosed with medulloblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer that occurs most often in children and teens, Isabella survived.—
Liz McNeil,
People.com,
23 Jan. 2025
-
An aggressive exterior, with more aero and venting, hints at the performance potential within.—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
In any case, the militant Islamist group is no longer the same organization that launched the October 7, 2023, massacre.—
Hussein Ibish,
The Atlantic,
19 Jan. 2025
-
Palestinian statehood remains very difficult question for Israel to answer, pushed further away by the October 7 attacks and 15 months of brutal war in Gaza against Palestinian militant group Hamas.—
Ellie Cook,
Newsweek,
19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Instead, she was hounded out of the classroom by authorities hostile to Western literature.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2025
-
Last year, Trump's predecessor Joe Biden fired the inspector general of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board, after an investigation found the official had created a hostile work environment.—
Riley Beggin,
USA TODAY,
25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The loud and contentious debate about whether Indiana and SMU deserved CFP at-large bids overshadowed the reality of postseason football in both college and the NFL.—
Scott Dochterman,
The Athletic,
18 Jan. 2025
-
President Joe Biden prioritized student loan forgiveness during his term, introducing broad and contentious programs—challenged by his opponents in the courts—to relieve people of large chunks of their college debt.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Even in the face of assaultive public opinion, there is nothing to add.—
Paolo Armelli,
WIRED,
1 Aug. 2024
-
How many times, in the throes of his illness, had he been taken into custody by police, accused of lewd or assaultive behavior, and locked in psych wards, only to be let out within days?—
Omari Daniels,
Washington Post,
21 Nov. 2023
Thesaurus Entries Near combative
Cite this Entry
“Combative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combative. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share