combative
adjective
com·bat·ive
kəm-ˈba-tiv 
: marked by eagerness to fight or contend
combatively
adverb
combativeness
noun
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
For many Democrats, however, Kirk was an offensive rage-baiter and the face of the MAGA movement's combative style.
—
Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Trump's combative approach to his role of healer-in-chief when tragedy strikes also represents a break from tradition, according to presidential historians who spoke with Newsweek.
—Daniel Bush, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Some aspects of playing right-back suit Wieffer’s combative instincts.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Kennedy appears combative during testimony The three-hour hearing quickly became combative as Kennedy defended his time as HHS secretary amid a flurry of questions on his staffing shakeups, vaccine changes and other issues.
—Will McDuffie, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combative
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Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Trump's combative approach to his role of healer-in-chief when tragedy strikes also represents a break from tradition, according to presidential historians who spoke with Newsweek.
—Daniel Bush, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Some aspects of playing right-back suit Wieffer’s combative instincts.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Kennedy appears combative during testimony The three-hour hearing quickly became combative as Kennedy defended his time as HHS secretary amid a flurry of questions on his staffing shakeups, vaccine changes and other issues.
—Will McDuffie, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combative
Cite this Entry
“Combative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/combative. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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