as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
channeling his naturally combative impulses into sports
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
After failing to post his $17,500 bond, police said Klein woke up from a nap on Friday and allegedly became very combative, punching a security camera in his holding cell at the police department.
—
Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 7 July 2025
Whether a result of his combative personality, almost bottomless wealth, or fury at being tossed aside, Musk has chosen not to roll over, as so many spurned Trump allies have, and has instead hit back.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 7 July 2025
The officer reported the driver seemed to show signs of drug impairment and became combative with rescue personnel.
—Tom Olsen, Twin Cities, 25 June 2025
Several sources described the interaction as heated and combative.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for combative
Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 7 July 2025
Whether a result of his combative personality, almost bottomless wealth, or fury at being tossed aside, Musk has chosen not to roll over, as so many spurned Trump allies have, and has instead hit back.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 7 July 2025
The officer reported the driver seemed to show signs of drug impairment and became combative with rescue personnel.
—Tom Olsen, Twin Cities, 25 June 2025
Several sources described the interaction as heated and combative.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for combative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combative
Adjective
-
As the relationship between Putin and Trump has soured, a broad coalition of U.S. lawmakers has lined up ready to place new aggressive sanctions on Russia.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
22 July 2025
-
Sadly, Minx was soon diagnosed with an aggressive cancer.—
Staff Author,
People.com,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
Buhari vowed to do more to fight militant groups and fix the economy as the demonstrations turned deadly and continued to simmer for the remainder of his presidency.—
Mitchell McCluskey,
CNN Money,
13 July 2025
-
Settler violence in the West Bank has risen since the start of Israel's war against Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza in late 2023, according to rights groups.—
Ali Sawafta,
USA Today,
13 July 2025
Adjective
-
Five days later, on July 8, an attorney for the city manager submitted a letter of potential claim against the city citing defamation, harassment and creation of a hostile work environment.—
Anita Edmondson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 July 2025
-
In early October 2022, the ruling said, McCarty filed a hostile work environment complaint with the police department.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
25 July 2025
Adjective
-
After a six-hour contentious hearing in 2023, the CPUC approved both companies to operate at any hour of the day and charge for rides.—
Lia Russell
Updated July 14,
Sacbee.com,
14 July 2025
-
With billions allocated for new hiring, the scale of ICE's growth could reshape immigration enforcement for years to come and will likely remain at the center of a contentious national debate.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
The record indicates that the instant offense has elements of brutality, violence, assaultive behavior or conscious selection of victim's vulnerability indicating a conscious disregard for the lives, safety, or property of others, such that the offender poses a continuing threat to public safety.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2025
-
The effect is assaultive but clever, jolting listeners’ reflexes and then toying with their attention.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Combative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combative. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share