combative
adjective
com·bat·ive
kəm-ˈba-tiv 
: marked by eagerness to fight or contend
combatively
adverb
combativeness
noun
Synonyms
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
But while her style has been hailed in recent years by Democrats, it’s also provided strong material for conservatives to paint her as combative and antagonistic.
—
Nicole Nixon, Sacramento Bee, 26 July 2024
The session was highly combative, with many members calling for Mary’s execution, or at the very least her exclusion from the succession.
—Elizabeth Tunstall, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2024
In speeches and interviews, Nasrallah is gleefully combative, often speaking in colloquial Arabic, rather than in the formal diction favored by other leaders in the Arab world.
—Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 22 July 2024
The president comes across as most confident and combative on Trump’s social-media platform.
—Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 19 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for combative 
Nicole Nixon, Sacramento Bee, 26 July 2024
The session was highly combative, with many members calling for Mary’s execution, or at the very least her exclusion from the succession.
—Elizabeth Tunstall, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2024
In speeches and interviews, Nasrallah is gleefully combative, often speaking in colloquial Arabic, rather than in the formal diction favored by other leaders in the Arab world.
—Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 22 July 2024
The president comes across as most confident and combative on Trump’s social-media platform.
—Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 19 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for combative
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'combative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near combative
Cite this Entry
“Combative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/combative. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.
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