combative

adjective

com·​bat·​ive kəm-ˈba-tiv How to pronounce combative (audio)
Synonyms of combative
: marked by eagerness to fight or contend
combatively adverb
combativeness noun

Synonyms of combative

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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
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.
Johnson and James have had an intensely combative relationship since launching their campaigns to flip the governor’s seat red. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 11 July 2026 Their combative behavior gets under your skin as Mars and Uranus align! — Usa Today, USA Today, 4 July 2026 Even though Clinton’s remarks Saturday received muted response on cable news due to the heatwave and Trump’s excesses, online the former President deftly tapped into the shifts among Democrats for a more combative approach to curb MAGA. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 4 July 2026 At once pugnaciously combative and unreservedly sentimental, Landon chose to take the series out with a commentary on class revolt. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for combative

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of combative was in 1826

Browse Nearby Words

combat intelligence
combative
combative accent
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Cite this Entry

“Combative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/combative. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

combative

adjective
com·​bat·​ive kəm-ˈbat-iv How to pronounce combative (audio)
: eager to fight : pugnacious
combativeness noun

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Nglish: Translation of combative for Spanish Speakers

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