combative

adjective

com·​bat·​ive kəm-ˈba-tiv 

: marked by eagerness to fight or contend

combatively adverb

combativeness noun

Synonyms of combative

• aggressive
• militant
• hostile
• contentious
• confrontational
• assaultive

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

Takaichi has pledged to revise security and defense policy by the end of the year and seeks to further bolster Japan’s military with unmanned combative weapons and long-range missiles. —Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026

Ugarte offers some of Casemiro’s combative tackling, but little of his progressive passing. —Carl Anka, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026

Earlier in the night, the combative progressive suggested the results would not be known until Wednesday or later after the Texas Supreme Court blocked a Dallas judge who ordered polls to stay open two extra hours after complaints from voters who were turned away. —Philip Elliott, Time, 4 Mar. 2026

This seems a little combative, which is understandable. —Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

combative

adjective

com·​bat·​ive kəm-ˈbat-iv 

: eager to fight : pugnacious

combativeness noun