How to Use combative in a Sentence

combative

adjective

• When the police tried to arrest him, he became combative.
• But persuasion and sales are rarely about being combative, loud, or tough.
  — Heather R Morgan, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2021
• The man, who became conscious was then combative with paramedics and officers, and spit in the eye of one of the paramedics.
  — cleveland, 3 Mar. 2021
• In it, Maxwell was combative throughout seven hours of questioning.
  — Larry Neumeister, Star Tribune, 28 Jan. 2021
• Malcolm & Marie takes place over the course of an increasingly restless and downright combative night for a creative couple.
  — Vanessa Lawrence, ELLE Decor, 12 Feb. 2021
• Any further attempts at conversation will be treated as such, which is why Karen has maintained combative energy with them both.
  — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
• It was inspired by her observations of flight attendants, who were required to continue smiling even when passengers were combative or rude.
  — Mirel Zaman, refinery29.com, 11 Feb. 2021
• Badenoch is a combative politician known for taking on journalists, Labour politicians, and even the actor David Tennant.
  — Andrew Jones, NBC News, 2 Nov. 2024
• 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
• The next nominee will, however, lack Tanden's record of combative tweets against Republican senators.
  — Ramesh Ponnuru, Star Tribune, 4 Mar. 2021
• In response to the manifold accusations, DJI has been equally combative.
  — Thomas Brewster, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2021
• Hamby’s time on the board got off to a combative start.
  — Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 20 Nov. 2023
• These moves have left a lot of union members in a combative mood.
  — Brent Lang, Variety, 8 Feb. 2023
• The last time Pat saw Ron, there was none of the fire and brimstone of his more combative moments.
  — Max Olesker, Longreads, 13 July 2023
• The tenor in the union hall, however, was far more combative.
  — Jennifer Gonnerman, The New Yorker, 9 Jan. 2023
• Which age groups are most amenable to in-person work, and which are most combative?
  — Jane Thier, Fortune, 16 May 2024
• Both sides will need to ask questions that help rein in the combative and focus on the result.
  — Simon S. Mass, Forbes, 24 May 2021
• This is less combative but requires you to be always on the run.
  — Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2021
• Hayes got combative with cops and a fight broke out ... with the ex-Texas Longhorns star getting tased in the middle of the scuffle.
  — Dave Clark, The Enquirer, 29 July 2021
• Yet his remarks, while combative, did not appear to close the door on a deal.
  — Ellen Knickmeyer, arkansasonline.com, 25 July 2024
• By the end of the season, he was being booed by the Lakers fans and became combative with the media.
  — Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2022
• Perhaps some of these younger toughs will yet have time to find less combative ways to rise in status.
  — Susan Pinker, WSJ, 5 May 2022
• And its combative tone seemed intended to strike a nerve.
  — Rachyl Jones, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2023
• Fain, elected president of the union this spring, has been the UAW’s most combative leader in years.
  — Lauren Kaori Gurley, Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2023
• At times, Vance and his staff have been more directly combative with the media.
  — Freddy Brewster, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2022
• For Chiuri, these three women are a real-life version of Valkyries, the combative Norse deities who served the god Odin.
  — Allyson Portee, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Feb. 2023
• The man got out of his car and was combative towards officers.
  — cleveland, 14 May 2021
• While the flight crew was retrieving Narcan from the back of the plane, Burch became combative, the affidavit said.
  — Anchorage Daily News, 27 June 2023
• Porsche boss Oliver Blume is the new boss, with a less combative management style.
  — David Meyer, Fortune, 25 July 2022
• Peter had declined rapidly in the last few months and had been manic and combative.
  — Lori Riley, courant.com, 27 Dec. 2021

Last Updated: 9 Jan 2025