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

One year later, after being combative and guarded in his rookie season, that armor appears to be coming off. — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026

Driscoll was widely seen as less combative and positioned himself as a driving force for modernizing the Army through updating its doctrine and integrating robots, drones and other emerging technologies into the force. — Luis Martinez, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026

If Smith can’t reach that height, then the Alvarado and McConnell comparisons are more apt, and both of those two players are combative and successful defensive players. — Tony East, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

In settling, Meta reversed its previously combative approach to lawsuits alleging its products harmed children, Gadinis said. — Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 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