as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
channeling his naturally combative impulses into sports
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Recent Examples of combative
She's called for more technology and coordination along Ecuador's combative coastline and ports.
—
Carrie Kahn, NPR, 12 Apr. 2025
Clearly, anyone who is that combative is trying to protect their heart.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2025
Randy Fine, a combative state senator who clashed with Gov. Ron DeSantis, won the open-seat race in northeast Florida’s 6th congressional district to succeed National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.
—David Catanese, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2025
While slightly less combative than Kayhan, Javan still conveyed conditional skepticism, framing Washington's intentions as unclear and demanding visible signs of commitment before endorsing the process.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combative
Carrie Kahn, NPR, 12 Apr. 2025
Clearly, anyone who is that combative is trying to protect their heart.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2025
Randy Fine, a combative state senator who clashed with Gov. Ron DeSantis, won the open-seat race in northeast Florida’s 6th congressional district to succeed National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.
—David Catanese, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2025
While slightly less combative than Kayhan, Javan still conveyed conditional skepticism, framing Washington's intentions as unclear and demanding visible signs of commitment before endorsing the process.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combative
Adjective
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But in recent weeks, Musk dramatically lowered his taxpayer savings estimates from DOGE's government cuts, disagreed publicly with Trump's aggressive tariff policies and butted heads with multiple Trump officials, some publicly, revealing divisions within the White House over Musk's influence.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
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After Leandro Trossard’s red card, the approach became even more aggressive — City’s entire team was essentially camped inside or on the edge of Arsenal’s box.—
Conor O'Neill,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The attack at Pahalgam on Tuesday was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), which is an offshoot of Pakistan's Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Apr. 2025
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However, Pakistan denied any connection to the attack, which was claimed by a militant group that called itself the Kashmir Resistance.—
Greg Norman,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Trump’s aggressive targeting of major law firms, many of which have advocated liberal policy positions and clients, also marks a striking new front in his second-term legal battles, as the administration pressures firms seen as politically hostile or unwilling to back its agenda.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
3 May 2025
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Russia will accrue enormous economic benefits if the United States facilitates its reentry into the world economy, generating revenue that will go directly to rebuilding its military, funding hostile intelligence operations and propping up a regime that’s never far from its next military adventure.—
Colin Pascal,
Baltimore Sun,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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The implementation was originally blocked in federal court and sparked a contentious legal back-and-forth.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
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Some of his actions have been highly contentious, including his decision to deport migrants to an El Salvadorian prison using an 18th century wartime statute — which was subject to legal challenges.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The record indicates that the instant offense has elements of brutality, violence, assaultive behavior or conscious selection of victim's vulnerability indicating a conscious disregard for the lives, safety, or property of others, such that the offender poses a continuing threat to public safety.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2025
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The effect is assaultive but clever, jolting listeners’ reflexes and then toying with their attention.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Combative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combative. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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