as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
channeling his naturally combative impulses into sports
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of combative
Earlier in the night, the combative progressive suggested the results would not be known until Wednesday or later after the Texas Supreme Court blocked a Dallas judge who ordered polls to stay open two extra hours after complaints from voters who were turned away.
—
Philip Elliott, Time, 4 Mar. 2026
This seems a little combative, which is understandable.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
Crockett, a civil rights lawyer, is known as a firebrand, with combative comebacks and fierce messaging.
—Emily Wilkins, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2026
What began with the rise of the Tea Party movement, a grassroots rebellion against taxes and federal spending, evolved into the MAGA era, defined by loyalty to Trump and a more combative brand of politics.
—Gromer Jeffers Jr, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for combative
Philip Elliott, Time, 4 Mar. 2026
This seems a little combative, which is understandable.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
Crockett, a civil rights lawyer, is known as a firebrand, with combative comebacks and fierce messaging.
—Emily Wilkins, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2026
What began with the rise of the Tea Party movement, a grassroots rebellion against taxes and federal spending, evolved into the MAGA era, defined by loyalty to Trump and a more combative brand of politics.
—Gromer Jeffers Jr, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for combative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combative
Adjective
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While their offer was aggressive, the deal wasn’t done in a numbers vacuum.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
9 Mar. 2026
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Slater had been particularly aggressive against Big Tech companies during her tenure.—
Allie Canal,
NBC news,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Frontiers are already porous here, crossed by smuggling routes, refugee trails and militant hideouts.—
Mihir Sharma,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
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Among the most prominent Islamic militant groups are Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, known as Islamic State West Africa Province.—
Dyepkazah Shibayan,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Handling a hostile environment Texas coach Jim Schlossnagle said his team knew what to expect from Bobcat Ballpark.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Mar. 2026
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Brasília was built from scratch, in the middle of nowhere, in the hostile climate of the Cerrado—a savanna-like biome—hundreds of miles from any highway, railway, or airport.—
Sophia La Banca,
JSTOR Daily,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The dispute was resolved in June 2022 through a confidential settlement, bringing to a close one of the more public—and contentious—chapters of Luck’s executive career.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
5 Mar. 2026
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As the war with Iran continues for a sixth day, evacuating Americans from the Middle East remains a contentious issue.—
Carolyn Gusoff,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Mary, who was just finishing up undergrad at NYU herself, responded to a casting-call flyer Ron posted and slipped into the role with the confrontational zeal of a creative soul mate.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
4 Mar. 2026
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The clash mirrors a broader fight within the Democratic Party, as progressive candidates push for a more confrontational stance toward Israel’s government and more moderate lawmakers warn against alienating pro-Israel voters and donors.—
Olivia Olander,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 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 13 Mar. 2026.
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