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
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
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Maritz has been aggressive in challenges and positive with pushing forward into attack.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
-
Putin would hit them through relentless cyber attacks and increasingly aggressive military moves on their borders.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
Previous negotiations have stalled over Hamas demands of guarantees that further negotiations would lead to the war's end, while Netanyahu has insisted Israel would resume fighting to ensure the militant group's destruction.—
WAFAA SHURAFA,
arkansasonline.com,
6 July 2025
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Israel’s military has launched thousands of attacks targeting any move by the Lebanese militant group to restore its capabilities.—
Nabih Bulos
Foreign Correspondent,
Los Angeles Times,
5 July 2025
Adjective
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Forced to work in a more hostile environment than.when it was first established in 2019, the mission faces limited options for evacuations due to the ongoing suspension of international commercial flights, and mobility, because of gangs’ ongoing gang encirclement of Port-au-Prince.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
14 July 2025
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From retail shops to corner bodegas and independent grocery stores, the past few years have not only forced small business owners to confront staggering economic challenges, but also a needlessly hostile regulatory environment brought on by out-of-touch policymakers.—
Tosha Miller,
New York Daily News,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
Earlier this year, Trump paused weapons shipments to Ukraine after a contentious meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office.—
Zachary Folk,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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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
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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
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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 20 Jul. 2025.
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