as in aggression
an inclination to fight or quarrel
the boxer was known more for his unbridled combativeness than for his technical skill
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of combativeness
But there is a far more important influence Dobeš can have on this series than his combativeness, and that is his puckhandling.
—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
As a student at Dartmouth College, Dhillon doubled down on her political beliefs with a combativeness that foreshadowed her later commitment to MAGA.
—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
13 Apr. 2026
But Bondi decided the moment called for combativeness, not contrition.
—
Cnn.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
Bessent’s combativeness is, in part, a sign of the times, said David Lublin, chair of the Department of Government at American University’s School of Public Affairs.
—
Fatima Hussein,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
For Republicans, the primary has become a struggle over how to keep Texas red, with their party weighing steadiness, combativeness and reinvention in the post-Trump era.
—
Gromer Jeffers Jr.
political,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Jan. 2026
For those reading the tea leaves about the level of combativeness that next year’s talks could bring, some members of the strike-era leadership are back in 2026.
—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Nov. 2025
Republican politicians have canceled meetings or opted to hold them virtually in response to criticism and combativeness from voters, and some Democratic town halls have also been targeted.
—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Aug. 2025
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
As a student at Dartmouth College, Dhillon doubled down on her political beliefs with a combativeness that foreshadowed her later commitment to MAGA.
—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
13 Apr. 2026
But Bondi decided the moment called for combativeness, not contrition.
—
Cnn.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
Bessent’s combativeness is, in part, a sign of the times, said David Lublin, chair of the Department of Government at American University’s School of Public Affairs.
—
Fatima Hussein,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
For Republicans, the primary has become a struggle over how to keep Texas red, with their party weighing steadiness, combativeness and reinvention in the post-Trump era.
—
Gromer Jeffers Jr.
political,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Jan. 2026
For those reading the tea leaves about the level of combativeness that next year’s talks could bring, some members of the strike-era leadership are back in 2026.
—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Nov. 2025
Republican politicians have canceled meetings or opted to hold them virtually in response to criticism and combativeness from voters, and some Democratic town halls have also been targeted.
—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combativeness
Noun
-
Ukraine has every right to attack Russia’s military infrastructure that sustains its aggression.
-
Issues could include insomnia, aggression, difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to psychotropic medication and exacerbation of existing mental illness -- like anxiety, depression and schizophrenia.
Noun
-
Dillon Thieneman’s speed Since draft night in April, Thieneman has been lauded for his combination of speed, instincts and aggressiveness.
-
This is a lineup structured to thrive with a small-ball approach — high batting average, chaos and aggressiveness on the basepaths, and manufacturing runs.
Noun
-
Engelbert has consistently mismanaged the overt physical hostility directed at the league's biggest star.
-
Today, however, some experts suggest that explicit displays of racial hostility have become more visible in public spaces.
Cite this Entry
“Combativeness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combativeness. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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