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
Massie criticized Bondi's combative testimony before the House Judiciary Committee regarding the Jeffrey Epstein files.
—
Terry Collins, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
At last year's conference, Vice President JD Vance delivered a combative address that rattled European capitals and fueled fears of an accelerating trans-Atlantic split.
—Olivia Gazis, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026
Bondi faced tough questions about her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files during her combative testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, but the president praised her.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2026
Here are seven key takeaways from the combative hearing.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for combative
Terry Collins, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
At last year's conference, Vice President JD Vance delivered a combative address that rattled European capitals and fueled fears of an accelerating trans-Atlantic split.
—Olivia Gazis, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026
Bondi faced tough questions about her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files during her combative testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, but the president praised her.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2026
Here are seven key takeaways from the combative hearing.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for combative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combative
Adjective
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The operation also resulted in the killing of two US citizens, the deployment of aggressive tactics by armed, masked DHS agents, and a soaring sense of trepidation permeating Minnesota’s immigrant communities.—
Yahya Salem,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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Torres Hidalgo had been diagnosed with the rare and aggressive form of soft tissue cancer in December 2024.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The ceasefire deal calls for an armed international stabilization force to keep security and ensure the disarming of the militant Hamas group, a key demand of Israel.—
Aamer Madhani,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2026
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But since the beginning of the year, hundreds of Nigerians have been killed, injured, or kidnapped in attacks across the country with responsibility attributed to a mix of militant and criminal actors, including Boko Haram, the Islamic State, and a group known as Lakurawa.—
Adrian Elimian,
semafor.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Deery believes that decline can be attributed in part to prospective students and parents feeling like campuses are hostile to those who don't hold a liberal-leaning worldview.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
18 Feb. 2026
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For some unexplained reason, if such an event continues for a prolonged period, citizens can often become inexplicably hostile.—
Wayne Chan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The discussion around tips remains contentious, and California lawmakers have struggled with how to handle the imperfect solution of service fees.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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Over the past several weeks, Israel has launched a contentious land regulation process that will deepen its control in the occupied West Bank.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Much of the pro-Talarico online push centers on Crockett’s electability, a routine primary debate that grows divisive when her confrontational tactics, not her record, are targeted.—
Gromer Jeffers Jr,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Feb. 2026
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Popular talk show host Colin Cowherd, who is paid to have opinions, threw up his arms recently on the topic and said his only suggestion was for Silver to channel his more-confrontational predecessor David Stern and yell at losing teams.—
David K. Li,
NBC news,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Chief Judge James Boasberg ruled in two more surge cases involving Paul Nguyen and Nathalie Rose Jones, each accused of assaultive or threatening conduct during summer protests.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Nov. 2025
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Corigliano’s symphony is assaultive in style and confrontational in intent.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Combative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combative. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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