combative

adjective

com·​bat·​ive kəm-ˈba-tiv How to pronounce combative (audio)
: 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 Its sprawling community of users was combative with management. Mike Isaac, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Biden initially became combative about discussing the memo. Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2024 An officer noticed that the scan showed a hammer inside and attempted to look in the bag, but Snow grabbed it and became combative, police said. Justin Jouvenal, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 Biden appeared robust and combative throughout the address that went slightly over an hour. Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Normally during the arrest of a potentially combative person, officers work in teams and are each given a specific role, such as holding a ballistic shield or providing cover with a firearm or a less-lethal weapon. Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 These sessions, as many Democrats pointed out, were combative, full of invective, and almost entirely devoid of substance. Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2024 If a parent’s relationship with the child is shaky (read: contentious, angry, combative, passive-aggressive, fear-based), power struggles are more common. Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2024 None of those positions, however, involved a daily on-camera barrage from combative journalists, the kind of challenge that requires command over a dizzying array of topics and the verbal reflexes of an auctioneer. Michael M. Grynbaum, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2024

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.

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of combative was in 1826

Dictionary Entries Near combative

Cite this Entry

“Combative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/combative. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

combative

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

More from Merriam-Webster on combative

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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