as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
channeling his naturally combative impulses into sports
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of combative
Trump’s combative and adversarial style, far from indicating thick skin, may signal the opposite: a compulsive need to dominate the narrative to avoid feeling diminished.
—
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
Caputo was combative throughout the night, beginning before her DUI arrest, according to an internal affairs report released by the Sheriff’s Office on Friday.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2025
The dialogue between the Eagles’ offensive coaching staff and players has ranged from combative to conducive.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 2 June 2025
Leo, in response, offered a less combative response.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for combative
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
Caputo was combative throughout the night, beginning before her DUI arrest, according to an internal affairs report released by the Sheriff’s Office on Friday.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2025
The dialogue between the Eagles’ offensive coaching staff and players has ranged from combative to conducive.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 2 June 2025
Leo, in response, offered a less combative response.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for combative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combative
Adjective
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But even in Alberta, a province that has favored development, the legacy policies are still likely not aggressive enough to meet the moment.—
Mark Le Dain,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
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Most recently the administration asked the Supreme Court to clear the way for downsizing the federal workforce despite multiple court rulings that congressional approval is needed to make such aggressive reductions.—
Ragan Whitlock,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2025
Adjective
-
The aid group accused Hamas of carrying out the assault; the militant group has not yet responded to the allegations.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
12 June 2025
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Some activists have been criticized for spreading messages seen as antisemitic or outright supportive of militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, Syria has turned from a fertile ground to a hostile one for Iran and its assets, after the Assad regime was toppled in December.—
Lina Khatib,
Time,
19 June 2025
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By contrast, the U.S. had appeared openly skeptical and was often even seen as hostile.—
Ozan Ozerk,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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The highly contentious ordinance faced months of City Council debate before passing in a 27-to-22 vote.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2025
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The topic of banning phones at gigs has been a contentious one over the years, with artists wishing for fans to live in the moment, and fans desiring a chance to memorialize their concert experiences.—
Tyler Jenke,
Billboard,
19 June 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 27 Jun. 2025.
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