COMBATIVE Synonyms: 103 Similar and Opposite Words

combative

adjective

kəm-ˈba-tiv

Definition of combative

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 Suno, which has had a highly combative relationship with the music industry in recent years. — Jem Aswad, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026 One year later, after being combative and guarded in his rookie season, that armor appears to be coming off. — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026 Driscoll was widely seen as less combative and positioned himself as a driving force for modernizing the Army through updating its doctrine and integrating robots, drones and other emerging technologies into the force. — Luis Martinez, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026 If Smith can’t reach that height, then the Alvarado and McConnell comparisons are more apt, and both of those two players are combative and successful defensive players. — Tony East, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for combative

Recent Examples of Synonyms for combative

Adjective

The customized coupe features a T-top roof, aggressive aero body kit, and a graphics package that could have appeared in the original The Fast and the Furious.

— Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 24 Sep. 2026
At 5-10, 198 pounds, Parrish mostly played nickel corner in Todd Bowles’ aggressive scheme and shined as a rookie.

— PJ Green September 24, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of aggressive

Adjective

Israel said the overnight strike targeted Izz al-Din Bik, a commander in the Hamas militant group.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2026
The militant group took over roughly one-third of Iraq after key Iraqi army divisions collapsed and retreated in the onslaught.

— Jane Arraf, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of militant

Adjective

The lawsuit is one of at least 13 cases filed in 2026 by current and former Independence Police Department officers alleging hostile work environments and dysfunction within the department.

— Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026
Chambliss aims to join them while avoiding a long list of talented signal callers who fell apart in one of the sport’s most-hostile environments.

— Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of hostile

Adjective

The Bears are pursuing a contentious move to Indiana, where state officials have offered over $1 billion in public support to build a new stadium in the northeast city of Hammond, just on the other side of the Illinois border.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Mulambo Haimbe said Washington had agreed to remove contentious data-sharing provisions.

— Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of contentious

Adjective

The environment around Venus at the top of the month is pointed, confrontational, and probably a bit rage-inducing.

— Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2026
The incident came as agitators against immigration adopt a confrontational new tactic of trying to stop the boats landing on England’s shores, clashing with police and rescue workers in the process.

— Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 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

Style

“Combative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combative. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of combative

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

slew

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

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

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 2

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes