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
Rat Sound gear was specially constructed to survive the sometimes punishing environment of a combative punk rock show.
—
Steve Appleford, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024
But their law firms said no, a nod to the fact that the nation’s most prominent white-collar practices have no interest in taking on such a controversial and combative client as Trump.
—Perry Stein, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for combative 
Steve Appleford, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024
But their law firms said no, a nod to the fact that the nation’s most prominent white-collar practices have no interest in taking on such a controversial and combative client as Trump.
—Perry Stein, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 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 May. 2024.
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