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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The tree has aggressive roots that can upend lawn turf and crack pavement.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
28 June 2025
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But the company’s aggressive marketing triggered backlash.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2025
Adjective
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The Islamic State militant group (ISIS) operates both east and west of Iran and has also stepped up operations within the Islamic Republic itself, having claimed the deadliest operation in the nation's post-revolutionary history in January 2024.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
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Bondi also shared that over 1,000 Iranian nationals have entered the country illegally in recent years and said law enforcement agencies are actively investigating them for possible ties to foreign militant groups.—
Elaine Mallon,
The Washington Examiner,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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Guzman’s book was used as a common reader by several universities in 2024, reflecting ongoing concerns about the often hostile, partisan gaps that have roiled many campuses in recent years.—
Michael T. Nietzel,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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In the five years since the events of Jurassic World Dominion, many of the dinosaurs and other formerly extinct creatures that were set free into the world have died off, unable to survive in the modern climate and otherwise hostile environments.—
Maureen Lee Lenker Published,
EW.com,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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That was displayed during a contentious exchange between Sen. Ted Cruz and conservative media figure Tucker Carlson.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
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 5 Jul. 2025.
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