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
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Recent Examples of combative
Elon Musk, one of Trump's most powerful supporters, has long had a combative relationship with the FAA and has previously blamed DEI efforts for making air travel less safe.
—
Ivana Saric, Axios, 30 Jan. 2025
Trump defended the moves in combative back-and-forth with reporters at the White House, saying many of those convicted had already served their time.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 22 Jan. 2025
By turns, the two women appear loving, then competitive — combative even — oscillating between precise unity and independence, staring at each other often but not touching until halfway through.
—Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2025
Vance's combative tone was emblematic of the broader MAGA cultural agenda, which prioritizes division over unity and power over mercy.
—Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for combative 
Ivana Saric, Axios, 30 Jan. 2025
Trump defended the moves in combative back-and-forth with reporters at the White House, saying many of those convicted had already served their time.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 22 Jan. 2025
By turns, the two women appear loving, then competitive — combative even — oscillating between precise unity and independence, staring at each other often but not touching until halfway through.
—Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2025
Vance's combative tone was emblematic of the broader MAGA cultural agenda, which prioritizes division over unity and power over mercy.
—Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for combative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combative
Adjective
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Instead, her life was turned upside down last week after President Donald Trump’s administration began instituting mass layoffs as part of an aggressive effort to trim the federal workforce.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA TODAY,
17 Feb. 2025
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Beef, coffee and orange juice are among groceries with higher prices, but eggs are uniquely affected by the aggressive strain of avian flu, which has strained supply.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The militant group accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement by targeting refugees with airstrikes, delaying the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza, and restricting humanitarian aid.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
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The militant group also accused Israel of delaying the entry of essential medicines and hospital supplies, as well as not allowing tents, prefabricated houses, fuel, or rubble-removing machines into Gaza.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN,
11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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But several of Barker’s best moments and best performances have come in high-pressure games or in hostile atmospheres.—
Oliver Kay,
The Athletic,
8 Feb. 2025
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But what Briner sees as a way of enhancing opportunities for people and communities – defined in the law as social equity applicants – was viewed as hostile to those same applicants during testimony last week.—
Peter Callaghan,
Twin Cities,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Leonard Peltier, one of the surviving leaders of the American Indian Movement, has been in prison for 50 years following a contentious conviction.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
10 Feb. 2025
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Coming off a contentious last couple weeks for his film’s awards campaign, Audiard had a more light-hearted opportunity to reflect on his Best Picture nominee.—
Vincent Perella,
IndieWire,
9 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Even in the face of assaultive public opinion, there is nothing to add.—
Paolo Armelli,
WIRED,
1 Aug. 2024
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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 Feb. 2025.
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