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

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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 This is in contract to the combative relationship Villanueva demonstrated with the board and oversight committees during his one-term in office. — Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 4 Nov. 2026 In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed faces Republican Mike Rogers in what has become an increasingly combative race. — CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026 In a combative, competitive race, Cervera has resorted to severely distorting his rival’s record in what looks like a win-at-all-costs strategy by a Republican running in heavily Democratic territory. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2026 Whitehouse, who once challenged Durbin for the position, is known for his more combative tone and progressive bent. — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 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
  • The son of a onetime Republican who worked for President Ronald Reagan, Colom garnered attention for his aggressive campaign as Democrats widened the Senate battleground map and Hyde-Smith's vulnerabilities crystallized.
    — BILL BARROW, Arkansas Online, 12 Nov. 2026
  • In an October report, Goldman Sachs observed that intense competition and aggressive discounting by global brands had dominated the retail landscape.
    — Denni Hu, Footwear News, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of aggressive
Adjective
  • Some reports have alleged tacit cooperation between Ansar Allah and the Al-Shabab militant group in Somalia as well.
    — Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Eisenkot has laid out a series of conditions for any Arab party to join his coalition, including recognition of Israel as a Jewish state and declaring the Palestinian militant group Hamas a terrorist organization.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of militant
Adjective
  • Its ability to strike land targets from considerable distances allows naval forces to conduct precision attacks without moving their launch platforms close to hostile territory.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026
  • North Korea’s constitution had been offline since March 2024, months after Kim had declared at a party plenary meeting in late 2023 that the two Koreas are separate, hostile states.
    — Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of hostile
Adjective
  • Skip to Main Content Concert Review The first of a historic five-night run at Mercedes-Benz Stadium was contentious and confounding.
    — DeAsia Paige, AJC.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The Ravens, meanwhile, are 4-4 and sit at the bottom of a contentious AFC North.
    — Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of contentious
Adjective
  • Gray has always displayed a probing visual style, boldly confrontational yet painfully tender.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026
  • And nobody talks about the stuff that happened in his contradictory and confrontational relationship with his father.
    — Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 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 14 Nov. 2026.

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