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
More inclusive and less combative.
—
Carol Rh Malasig, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The rare move highlighted the administration's combative stance toward jurists who impeded its immigration policies.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Under his leadership, the department cultivated a sense of independence that could be combative.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
In the hopes of avoiding that scrutiny, the university renamed websites and job titles, all while dealing with pressure from students, faculty and staff who wanted the school to take a more combative stance.
—Byron Tau, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combative
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Carol Rh Malasig, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The rare move highlighted the administration's combative stance toward jurists who impeded its immigration policies.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Under his leadership, the department cultivated a sense of independence that could be combative.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
In the hopes of avoiding that scrutiny, the university renamed websites and job titles, all while dealing with pressure from students, faculty and staff who wanted the school to take a more combative stance.
—Byron Tau, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2025
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 Sep. 2025.
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