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
Do Democrats want a combative party leader or someone more tactical and engaged with current voter trends?
—
David Paleologos, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2025
During a combative Republican primary for governor, Kehoe promised steady leadership and a measured tone, contrasting himself with the more aggressive rhetoric of his major rivals, state Sen. Bill Eigel and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 13 Jan. 2025
Canada: Pierre Poilievre, a combative populist politician, is the favorite to become the country’s next leader.
—Natasha Frost, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Incompatible partners, on harder days, may consistently feel resentful, combative or simply annoyed in one another’s presence.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for combative 
David Paleologos, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2025
During a combative Republican primary for governor, Kehoe promised steady leadership and a measured tone, contrasting himself with the more aggressive rhetoric of his major rivals, state Sen. Bill Eigel and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 13 Jan. 2025
Canada: Pierre Poilievre, a combative populist politician, is the favorite to become the country’s next leader.
—Natasha Frost, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Incompatible partners, on harder days, may consistently feel resentful, combative or simply annoyed in one another’s presence.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for combative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combative
Adjective
-
Take London, which was a clear hotspot (and will continue to be, for some time): Mandarin Oriental opened its second spot in the capital, barely minutes in a limo from its existing Knightsbridge perch, while Maybourne’s soon-to-be aggressive expansion was teed up by the arrival of the sleek Emory.Christopher Cameron, Robb Report, 11 Jan. 2025
-
Inter Miami has been aggressive in its global outreach since signing Argentina’s captain Lionel Messi.Melanie Anzidei, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The attacker, a U.S. citizen who had proclaimed his support for the Islamic State militant group, was fatally shot in a firefight with police.Jack Brook and Sara Cline, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2025
-
Citing an unnamed senior Hamas official, the BBC reported on Monday the list it was shown by the Palestinian militant group includes 10 women, as well as young children.Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Both saw themselves as outsiders in a hostile environment.Ruth Margalit, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
-
Aber’s book is successful in showing that self-hatred is the fruit not of a few particular traumas but rather of a hostile environment’s erosive drip on the psyche.Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
President Joe Biden prioritized student loan forgiveness during his term, introducing broad and contentious programs—challenged by his opponents in the courts—to relieve people of large chunks of their college debt.David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Jan. 2025
-
The loud and contentious debate about whether Indiana and SMU deserved CFP at-large bids overshadowed the reality of postseason football in both college and the NFL.Scott Dochterman, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025
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 21 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share