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
Manila’s Teodoro struck the most combative tone, saying that China expansionism continues unabated.
—
Lim Hui Jie,joanna Ossinger, CNBC, 31 May 2026
This year, Republicans at the convention will be faced with whether to choose combative anti-establishment candidates or more conventional ones.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 29 May 2026
Some users online have also complained about the model being restrained and combative, refusing to comply with even straightforward and benign requests.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 29 May 2026
This morning, the emotional Moon opposes combative Mars, so tempers and needs can pull in opposite directions.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for combative
Lim Hui Jie,joanna Ossinger, CNBC, 31 May 2026
This year, Republicans at the convention will be faced with whether to choose combative anti-establishment candidates or more conventional ones.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 29 May 2026
Some users online have also complained about the model being restrained and combative, refusing to comply with even straightforward and benign requests.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 29 May 2026
This morning, the emotional Moon opposes combative Mars, so tempers and needs can pull in opposite directions.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for combative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combative
Adjective
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Extra deployments, additional monitoring of cameras, more intelligence sharing and even drone deployments are part of an aggressive, proactive approach in an elevated threat environment, officials say.—
Gloria Pazmino,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
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But the World Cup presents a challenge for an administration that has placed aggressive immigration enforcement at the top of its agenda.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Adjective
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The operation, according to the army’s statement, was conducted in the Mandara mountains, which form part of the militant group’s stronghold.—
Dyepkazah Shibayan,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
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Israel’s strikes and ground invasion in Lebanon in pursuit of Hezbollah, and the militant group’s resistance to disarming, have complicated an overall deal to end the war in the Middle East.—
Kareem Chehayeb,
Fortune,
7 June 2026
Adjective
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Weiss and Tom Cibrowski were openly hostile from the start.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
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The Space Force budget has grown significantly in recent years, and one of its mandates is countering spying and potentially hostile acts by Russian and Chinese spacecraft in these orbits.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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Firpi has appeared as either a psychological evaluator or guardian ad litem in numerous contentious custody battles.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
4 June 2026
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Water use is emerging as one of the most contentious data center issues.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Much like life across Africa, the exhibition was layered, textured, richly sensual, and at times confrontational.—
Thomas Rom,
ARTnews.com,
8 June 2026
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But in every era of conflict, some well-meaning moderates have enabled bad-faith censors by conflating confrontational speech with the violence that sometimes answers it.—
Rob Wolfe,
The Atlantic,
5 June 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 9 Jun. 2026.
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