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
Fernandez was combative when asked if there was any long-term concern about the injury.
—
Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 May 2026
In Congress, Katie Porter’s blunt, combative style helped rocket her to progressive stardom.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
Attenborough, more than anybody, has established the link between the patch of glass in our living rooms and the wide world beyond—which, thanks to him, is revealed to be wider, weirder, and more combative than anyone could have conceived.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
The debate frequently turned combative, particularly during exchanges over homelessness and policing.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for combative
Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 May 2026
In Congress, Katie Porter’s blunt, combative style helped rocket her to progressive stardom.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
Attenborough, more than anybody, has established the link between the patch of glass in our living rooms and the wide world beyond—which, thanks to him, is revealed to be wider, weirder, and more combative than anyone could have conceived.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
The debate frequently turned combative, particularly during exchanges over homelessness and policing.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for combative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combative
Adjective
-
Gone was the meek servant child, replaced by a confident woman who remained composed during aggressive cross-examination.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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The new reality finds those legacy players, with the single exception of Disney, playing defense as tech’s flywheel spins faster, and their pursuit of TV ad dollars becomes even more aggressive.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
The militant organization Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which demands independence from Pakistan’s central government, has claimed responsibility for the attack.—
Sophie Tanno,
CNN Money,
24 May 2026
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Further symbols associated with neo-Nazism and militant accelerationism were found at the scene of the shooting, including a flag with a Sonnenrad on it and a gas can with SS bolts drawn on it, according to sources.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
And Roosevelt explained in his summer radio addresses of 1941 that if the Germans win the war, the United States becomes an island within the world, with hostile empires dominating most of the world’s landmass.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
20 May 2026
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Steward filed a complaint with human resources on June 30, alleging a hostile work environment.—
Ben Wheeler
May 20,
Kansas City Star,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
James Ward Thursday night’s California governor debate underscored just how unsettled — and contentious — the race has become, with candidates repeatedly clashing over crime, election integrity, reproductive rights, and the balance of power between state and local government.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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The most contentious and controversial being some very pointed criticisms of Ole Miss, his former school.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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But the latest soccer event won’t likely signal any thaw in their long-strained ties, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un maintaining his confrontational stance against South Korea.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 May 2026
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As confrontational as his images could be, the camera was Avedon’s way of experiencing the world, a way of seeking truth through invention.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
Adjective
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Unlawful activity including blocking roads, intentionally creating hazards and assaultive behavior will not be tolerated.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
2 Mar. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Combative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combative. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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