as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
channeling his naturally combative impulses into sports
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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
Jimmy Carter issued a blanket amnesty to Vietnam war draft evaders, following the end of the combative international struggle.
—
Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
President-elect Donald Trump and many of his allies have had a combative relationship with tech giants –— repeatedly accusing them of having too much power and sometimes wielding it in ways that negatively impacted him.
—Clare Duffy, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024
More:Trump names Karoline Leavitt youngest ever White House press secretary
Leavitt will take the podium at White House press briefings, which were often combative spectacles during Trump's first term.
—Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 29 Nov. 2024
Gorka’s appearances on various talk shows gained favor with Trump, though Kelly opposed his often combative interviews, a person familiar with the situation told CNN.
—Ty Roush, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for combative 
Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
President-elect Donald Trump and many of his allies have had a combative relationship with tech giants –— repeatedly accusing them of having too much power and sometimes wielding it in ways that negatively impacted him.
—Clare Duffy, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024
More:Trump names Karoline Leavitt youngest ever White House press secretary
Leavitt will take the podium at White House press briefings, which were often combative spectacles during Trump's first term.
—Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 29 Nov. 2024
Gorka’s appearances on various talk shows gained favor with Trump, though Kelly opposed his often combative interviews, a person familiar with the situation told CNN.
—Ty Roush, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for combative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combative
Adjective
-
Kristin talks with peers, peers’ parents, and every staff member, explaining how the dog is trained, how to behave around it, and soothing any worries regarding potential aggressive actions.Ethan Stone, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
-
What drove a lot of interest and buzz around the movie was a reported real-life feud between Blake Lively and star/director Justin Baldoni, which featured things like dramatic press tours, people not following people on Instagram and some passive aggressive press comments.Paul Tassi, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Iran continues to play a key role in regional conflicts, supporting militant groups including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, further complicating its diplomatic relations.Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
-
However, the militant group cautioned that hurdles remain.Sophie Tanno, CNN, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
In story mode, there are a few other people to find on the island, some of whom will be helpful and others hostile.Jason Bennett, arkansasonline.com, 15 Dec. 2024
-
Trump’s power derives from his ability to sow fear — fear that his administration will deport our immigrant neighbors, arrest opponents, attack LGBTQ+ rights, ban vaccines, and command the military to invade hostile cities.Joe Mathews, The Mercury News, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Growing up, millennials experienced contentious 2000 and 2008 U.S. presidential elections, the events of September 11, 2001, a war on terror that cost trillions and lasted two decades, and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
-
What’s more, the dynamics for Big Media and Big Tech are complicated by the fact that Trump has had a contentious relationship with major players in both sectors.Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 18 Dec. 2024
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 26 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share