combative
adjective
com·bat·ive
kəm-ˈba-tiv 
: marked by eagerness to fight or contend
combatively
adverb
combativeness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of combative in a Sentence
When the police tried to arrest him, he became combative.
channeling his naturally combative impulses into sports
Recent Examples on the Web
But Biden’s campaign believes Trump will turn off American voters with his mercurial and combative personality.
—
Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 20 June 2024
Still, leaning into that combative message is not always a natural fit for Mr. Biden.
—Kellen Browning, New York Times, 6 June 2024
He’s got a low-key demeanor and his personal style doesn’t seem to linger the way Lake’s combative politics does.
—Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 28 May 2024
Dominique and Bryton, who share a … combative flirting style, immediately hit it off.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 7 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for combative 
Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 20 June 2024
Still, leaning into that combative message is not always a natural fit for Mr. Biden.
—Kellen Browning, New York Times, 6 June 2024
He’s got a low-key demeanor and his personal style doesn’t seem to linger the way Lake’s combative politics does.
—Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 28 May 2024
Dominique and Bryton, who share a … combative flirting style, immediately hit it off.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 7 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for combative
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'combative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near combative
Cite this Entry
“Combative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/combative. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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