combative

adjective

com·​bat·​ive kəm-ˈba-tiv 

: marked by eagerness to fight or contend

combatively adverb

combativeness noun

Synonyms of combative

• aggressive
• militant
• hostile
• contentious
• confrontational
• assaultive

Examples of combative in a Sentence

When the police tried to arrest him, he became combative.

channeling his naturally combative impulses into sports

Recent Examples on the Web

In other battleground Senate races this fall, voters must choose between a combative Democrat and a Trump-friendly Republican. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2026

The shocks had a profound impact on Army employees who played the role of combative prisoners during the exercise, which took place at the military prison at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas in October 2024. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026

The shocks had a profound impact on Army employees who played the role of combative prisoners during the exercise, which took place at the military prison at Ft. — Ryan J. Foley, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

Federal prosecutors urged Judge Underhill to send the combative six-term former Democratic state representative to 10 years in accordance with federal sentencing guidelines. — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 3 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

combative

adjective

com·​bat·​ive kəm-ˈbat-iv 

: eager to fight : pugnacious

combativeness noun