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 the Boston Police Department came across violent pro-Palestine supporters at the Boston Common, officers were not dressed in riot gear, and there was not enough manpower to handle the combative situation, according to the president of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association.
—
Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
Watts pressed further, Porter grew visibly frustrated, and finally Porter accused Watts of being unnecessarily combative.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 9 Oct. 2025
In the former, a careful, risk-averse approach saw Frank set up in a 3-5-2 system to thwart the creative threat from Luis Enrique’s side and congest central areas, with Rodrigo Bentancur, Joao Palhinha and Pape Matar Sarr an excellent, combative midfield trio.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
The Russian president struck an unusually combative tone, issuing stark warnings of potential retaliation over Western support for Ukraine and NATO expansion.
—Alia Shoaib, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combative
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Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
Watts pressed further, Porter grew visibly frustrated, and finally Porter accused Watts of being unnecessarily combative.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 9 Oct. 2025
In the former, a careful, risk-averse approach saw Frank set up in a 3-5-2 system to thwart the creative threat from Luis Enrique’s side and congest central areas, with Rodrigo Bentancur, Joao Palhinha and Pape Matar Sarr an excellent, combative midfield trio.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
The Russian president struck an unusually combative tone, issuing stark warnings of potential retaliation over Western support for Ukraine and NATO expansion.
—Alia Shoaib, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 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 16 Oct. 2025.
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