as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
channeling his naturally combative impulses into sports
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of combative
The Forest captain, his combative nature was particularly valuable that September day at Anfield.
—
Paul Taylor, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025
This time around, the president is flanked by advisers who support his combative trade agenda.
—Ana Swanson, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025
What’s required for 2028 is a combative, attention-grabbing candidate who can punch the Democratic establishment squarely in the face.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2025
Stefanik rose to national prominence as a combative Trump loyalist, defending the president in his first impeachment trial.
—David Sivak, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combative
Paul Taylor, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025
This time around, the president is flanked by advisers who support his combative trade agenda.
—Ana Swanson, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025
What’s required for 2028 is a combative, attention-grabbing candidate who can punch the Democratic establishment squarely in the face.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2025
Stefanik rose to national prominence as a combative Trump loyalist, defending the president in his first impeachment trial.
—David Sivak, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combative
Adjective
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In fact, aggressive stretching can increase instability, putting more strain on the joint that can lead to pain and injury.—
Dana Santas,
CNN,
12 Mar. 2025
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Though McBride — who has been subject to many aggressive comments from House Republicans since joining Congress in January — attempted to move on with the hearing, Massachusetts Rep. William Keating refused to let Self's disrespectful comment slide.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The militant group has said that the move would affect the remaining hostages as well.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2025
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In December, a coalition of opposition fighters led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took over cities and eventually Damascus as regime forces retreated.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Amid the ongoing negotiations over a potential peace deal between Ukraine and Russia amid their ongoing war, Trump has spoken favorably of Putin while having a sometimes openly hostile relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
16 Mar. 2025
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Bill Belichick's 24-year-old cheerleader girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, posted a screenshot of a hostile exchange with an Instagram user who criticized the couple's relationship Friday.—
Jackson Thompson,
Fox News,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Focus on jail incident One of Johnston’s most contentious moments came when Rep. Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican, asked him about an incident last week involving immigration authorities’ arrest of a man in the parking lot of a Denver jail.—
Elliott Wenzler,
The Denver Post,
5 Mar. 2025
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European stocks are heading for a higher open on Wednesday amid optimism that U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25% duties on Canada and Mexico could be relaxed, with investors also paying attention to the potential reform of Germany’s contentious debt brake system.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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There were no observed overt assaultive acts or movements displayed by [the man] on the video.—
Josh Wood,
The Courier-Journal,
18 Feb. 2025
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Even in the face of assaultive public opinion, there is nothing to add.—
Paolo Armelli,
WIRED,
1 Aug. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Combative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combative. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.
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