combative

adjective

kəm-ˈba-tiv How to pronounce combative (audio)
Definition of combativenext
as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight channeling his naturally combative impulses into sports

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 The combative couple at the centre of the series are film star Carla Duval (Sienna Miller) and tech mogul Morgan Henderson (Dominic West). — Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 30 Sep. 2026 The remarks stand in stark contrast to Trump’s earlier posture toward Greenland, which had included months of combative rhetoric, tariff threats and a refusal to rule out military force to acquire the island. — Alejandra Jaramillo, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026 Current and former employees said Allen is largely an absentee leader who is combative and who put his workers in harm’s way by not acting sooner to address building concerns prior to a roof collapse last year. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Sep. 2026 With the midterm election just weeks away, Democrats laced into Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a combative House hearing Tuesday. — Matt Peterson, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for combative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combative
  1. aggressive
  2. militant
  3. hostile
  4. contentious
  5. confrontational
  6. assaultive
Adjective
  • These two phases of work are joined by Serra’s implicit disavowal of abstraction as a form of imagemaking in favor of an object’s aggressive purchase on the real.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Her challenger is Herb Morgan, a Republican from San Diego who promises a more aggressive approach to the job.
    — Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of aggressive
Adjective
  • There was music and singing, but we were dressed in gowns and tuxedos and then did militant poetry.
    — Jeremy Rellosa, Curbed, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Abu Obaida also praised Iran for its support, as well as militant groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
    — Charlene Gubash, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of militant
Adjective
  • In a hostile divorce proceeding, the first camp to attack has a major advantage.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The mission’s goal is to evaluate how the chips fare during the launch, as well as in the hostile space environment.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of hostile
Adjective
  • What readers are saying The conversation explores the contentious issue of whether doctors should charge for responding to patient emails.
    — Ishani Ganguli, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Court records show McKinsey’s killing came during a contentious divorce with his wife, Candice Jang, and a custody battle over the couple’s three young children.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of contentious
Adjective
  • There’s no reason for this confrontational attitude with immigration enforcement.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The environment around Venus at the top of the month is pointed, confrontational, and probably a bit rage-inducing.
    — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of confrontational
Adjective
  • The use of force is allowed under certain conditions, according to the personnel board’s order, including when an inmate could be assaultive or hurt themselves — which led Green to dismiss CDCR’s allegation against the officer.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2026
  • As Molloy gradually succeeds in puncturing Lestat’s aloof, arrogant outer shell, his sound correspondingly shifts from assaultive punk to more contemplative ballads.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 7 June 2026
Definition of assaultive

Browse Nearby Words

combating
combative
combativeness
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Cite this Entry

“Combative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combative. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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