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
On the witness stand, the teenager was reportedly combative and flustered by Jackson’s attorney Tom Mesereau, who attempted to poke holes in Gavin’s testimony and allegedly screamed at the boy throughout.
—
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 3 June 2026
The Board of Supervisors’ May 19 meeting turned combative as Wagner and Nguyen accused Foley of directing county staff to halt herbicide spraying in local creeks across the county without seeking board approval first.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
Outside of these combative qualities, Brown is a creative presence and typically operates in advanced areas.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Manila’s Teodoro struck the most combative tone, saying that China expansionism continues unabated.
—Lim Hui Jie,joanna Ossinger, CNBC, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for combative
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 3 June 2026
The Board of Supervisors’ May 19 meeting turned combative as Wagner and Nguyen accused Foley of directing county staff to halt herbicide spraying in local creeks across the county without seeking board approval first.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
Outside of these combative qualities, Brown is a creative presence and typically operates in advanced areas.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Manila’s Teodoro struck the most combative tone, saying that China expansionism continues unabated.
—Lim Hui Jie,joanna Ossinger, CNBC, 31 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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Many Christians seek to keep a hostile world at bay by discouraging inquiry and critical thinking, by empowering theological enforcers, and by drawing narrow doctrinal boundaries.—
Peter Wehner,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
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While some states would be hostile to public university athletes attempts to gain employment recognition, others might be more welcoming.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
10 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 11 Jun. 2026.
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