combative
adjective
com·bat·ive
kəm-ˈba-tiv 
: marked by eagerness to fight or contend
combatively
adverb
combativeness
noun
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
When South Carolina’s 62-48 victory ended, Auriemma approached his counterpart, a combative Philadelphian like himself, and there were fireworks.
—
Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026
At a congressional hearing, a combative Bondi tried to quell the Epstein files controversy.
—ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
The hearing At a congressional hearing, a combative Bondi tried to quell the Epstein files controversy.
—Jennifer Peltz, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Bondi was a strident in her combative defense of the president in congressional hearings, but she was embattled over her handling of the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for combative
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Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026
At a congressional hearing, a combative Bondi tried to quell the Epstein files controversy.
—ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
The hearing At a congressional hearing, a combative Bondi tried to quell the Epstein files controversy.
—Jennifer Peltz, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Bondi was a strident in her combative defense of the president in congressional hearings, but she was embattled over her handling of the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for combative
Cite this Entry
“Combative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/combative. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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