combative

adjective

com·​bat·​ive kəm-ˈba-tiv 

: marked by eagerness to fight or contend

combatively adverb

combativeness noun

Synonyms

• aggressive
• agonistic
• argumentative
• assaultive
• bellicose
• belligerent
• brawly
• chippy
• confrontational
• contentious
• discordant
• disputatious
• feisty
• gladiatorial
• militant
• pugnacious
• quarrelsome
• scrappy
• truculent
• warlike

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

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

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