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
Next to Nina sat Bess Pfeiffer, who, in her typical, drunken, combative fashion, seemed determined to pick an argument with Sam or Finn, equally disinterested parties.
—
Literary Hub, 2 Mar. 2026
Your 12th House of Healing stirs as combative Mars squares radical Uranus in your 3rd House of Noise.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2026
Facing pushback from France’s centrist and left-leaning cultural and media sectors, relations thawed for a time after Dati’s energy and determination won her grudging respect from some quarters amid hope that her combative style might be to culture’s benefit.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 26 Feb. 2026
Trump led with affordability but his usual combative style also emerged.
—Averi Harper, ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for combative
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Literary Hub, 2 Mar. 2026
Your 12th House of Healing stirs as combative Mars squares radical Uranus in your 3rd House of Noise.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2026
Facing pushback from France’s centrist and left-leaning cultural and media sectors, relations thawed for a time after Dati’s energy and determination won her grudging respect from some quarters amid hope that her combative style might be to culture’s benefit.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 26 Feb. 2026
Trump led with affordability but his usual combative style also emerged.
—Averi Harper, ABC News, 25 Feb. 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 9 Mar. 2026.
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