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
In mythology, Mars is the god of war, known for its fierce and combative nature, and this is no exception in astrology.
—
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
Darcy said that when a person is resisting officers, their knowledge of the person having pre-existing medical conditions is not enough to prevent them from restraining someone combative.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2025
If a member is particularly partisan and combative, that can trickle down.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 18 Sep. 2025
This comes a day after a combative hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, during which Patel defended his leadership of the nation's premier law enforcement agency.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combative
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Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
Darcy said that when a person is resisting officers, their knowledge of the person having pre-existing medical conditions is not enough to prevent them from restraining someone combative.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2025
If a member is particularly partisan and combative, that can trickle down.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 18 Sep. 2025
This comes a day after a combative hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, during which Patel defended his leadership of the nation's premier law enforcement agency.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 17 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 26 Sep. 2025.
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