combative

adjective

com·​bat·​ive kəm-ˈba-tiv 

: marked by eagerness to fight or contend

combatively adverb

combativeness noun

Synonyms

• 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

Of course, the increasingly partisan, combative, and at times, chaotic atmosphere had infiltrated the modern Congress before Johnson or his Senate counterpart, Majority Leader John Thune, took the gavel. —Savannah Kuchar, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2025

Instead, the parties have yet to even reach an agreement for the contract that expired in 2022, and the union is taking a more publicly combative tone ahead of arbitration. —David Clarey, jsonline.com, 31 July 2025

Jorge became combative and tried to get police to leave the apartment, but she was taken into custody. —Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 26 July 2025

However, the studio’s latest statement, issued July 24, takes a more combative tone, directly attacking Rai’s credibility and motives. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 July 2025

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