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
Discussion posts on Facebook groups for Keller parents and residents have become increasingly combative, with some members publicly hurling insults at one another.
—
Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2025
President Donald Trump’s agenda is taking a combative, rocky path through the judicial branch.
—Cory Smith, Baltimore Sun, 20 Mar. 2025
Driving the news: Vance has won over Trump's base with combative public performances, by savvily managing relationships with Trump's team, and by showing unwavering fealty to Trump's vision.
—Marc Caputo, Axios, 18 Mar. 2025
The Trump administration had suspended all military aid and intelligence sharing in the aftermath of that combative meeting in Washington.
—Andrew E. Kramer, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combative
Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2025
President Donald Trump’s agenda is taking a combative, rocky path through the judicial branch.
—Cory Smith, Baltimore Sun, 20 Mar. 2025
Driving the news: Vance has won over Trump's base with combative public performances, by savvily managing relationships with Trump's team, and by showing unwavering fealty to Trump's vision.
—Marc Caputo, Axios, 18 Mar. 2025
The Trump administration had suspended all military aid and intelligence sharing in the aftermath of that combative meeting in Washington.
—Andrew E. Kramer, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combative
Adjective
-
Trump prompts a more aggressive digital posture Democrats adopted a more combative stance online in recent weeks as Trump’s moves to slash the federal workforce drew protests from liberals and pushback at GOP town halls.—
Matt Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2025
-
As a result, teams are taking a more aggressive approach.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Israel ended its ceasefire with the Hamas militant group and renewed its air and ground war last month.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
1 Apr. 2025
-
From Myanmar comes the story of a student turned insurgent who joined a militant guerilla group set on overthrowing the country’s military junta.—
The Dial,
The Dial,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Andreas typically waits until there have been three instances of potential hostile communication before asking her friend or colleague if everything is OK.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Home to one of the world’s largest refugee populations – most of them from Afghanistan – Pakistan has not always welcomed the foreigners, subjecting them to hostile living conditions and threatening deportation over the years.—
Sophia Saifi,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Given the timing, data about Wisconsin’s contentious judicial race is less plentiful than what might be on hand, say, during a presidential or midterm election.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2025
-
The pair, who called it quits for the second time in August 2023, are still in the midst of their contentious divorce.—
Karen Fratti,
People.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The effect is assaultive but clever, jolting listeners’ reflexes and then toying with their attention.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
21 Mar. 2025
-
There were no observed overt assaultive acts or movements displayed by [the man] on the video.—
Josh Wood,
The Courier-Journal,
18 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Combative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combative. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share