combative

adjective

kəm-ˈba-tiv How to pronounce combative (audio)
Definition of combativenext
as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight channeling his naturally combative impulses into sports

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of combative The exchange captures the tension at the center of Campbell’s combative role in L’Affaire Sorsby, specifically, and intercollegiate athletics more broadly. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 23 July 2026 The producers then sued Wilson for defamation in 2024, according to documents made available by The Hollywood Reporter, and detailed a combative relationship between them and Wilson. — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 22 July 2026 The defending champions managed to hold Spain to a draw in the regulation 90 minutes, which ended with combative midfielder Enzo Fernandez being sent off after a reckless challenge in injury time. — Mark Hodge, NBC news, 20 July 2026 Norton said her mother was kind and pleasant and never combative. — Jordan Rau, NPR, 19 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for combative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combative
  1. aggressive
  2. militant
  3. hostile
  4. contentious
  5. confrontational
  6. assaultive
Adjective
  • In many cars, an aggressive recuperation pitches the passengers and driver forward.
    — Mark Ewing, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Jason Semore’s defenses, with his aggressive 4-2-5 scheme, typically rack up interceptions.
    — Fisher Isbell, AJC.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of aggressive
Adjective
  • The militant group Hamas has reached an agreement with the Board of Peace – tasked with implementing a long term ceasefire plan in Gaza – to relinquish its weapons, a senior official told CNN on Friday.
    — Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
  • Some Israeli strikes and militant attacks have continued since then.
    — Emma Nicholson, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Definition of militant
Adjective
  • The board of Scripps rejected Sinclair’s hostile bid in December.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The documentary depicts a scenario involving a large hostile surface vessel formation approaching southeast of China.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of hostile
Adjective
  • In Cairo, two Egyptian sources said Hamas had agreed to several contentious points, including the handover of weapons, but had requested changes regarding the definition of the infrastructure to be dismantled, adding more talks were underway.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 31 July 2026
  • With tariffs pushing up prices of goods and energy markets swinging on geopolitical news, the Federal Reserve’s policymaking committee concluded its July 2026 meeting with a contentious 9-3 vote to hold interest rates steady.
    — Brandy Hadley, Fortune, 31 July 2026
Definition of contentious
Adjective
  • The Venezuelan artist’s latest LP harks back to her experimental mixtapes &&&&& and @@@@@, trading the KiCK series’ pop and reggaeton impulses for confrontational, uncompromising electronic sounds.
    — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Reflecting on the album in a 2008 interview with SPIN, Costello said people mistook the confrontational pose for genuine swagger.
    — SPIN Staff, SPIN, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of confrontational
Adjective
  • The use of force is allowed under certain conditions, according to the personnel board’s order, including when an inmate could be assaultive or hurt themselves — which led Green to dismiss CDCR’s allegation against the officer.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2026
  • As Molloy gradually succeeds in puncturing Lestat’s aloof, arrogant outer shell, his sound correspondingly shifts from assaultive punk to more contemplative ballads.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 7 June 2026
Definition of assaultive

Browse Nearby Words

combating
combative
combativeness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Combative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combative. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on combative

Nglish: Translation of combative for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of invidious

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All