as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
channeling his naturally combative impulses into sports
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of combative
In contrast, Trump’s approach to journalists has been combative, from the White House to the courts.
—
Laurie Kellman, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2025
Little has been disclosed about the administration’s plan, which represents yet another salvo in President Trump’s combative push to reshape higher education, which has roiled academia, disrupted campus life and spilled into courts across the country.
—Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
The public backing of Crockett, known for controversial statements and confrontational tactics, signals a potential shift toward more combative political messaging.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025
Bellingham combines this on-ball brilliance with combative aggression off it.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for combative
Laurie Kellman, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2025
Little has been disclosed about the administration’s plan, which represents yet another salvo in President Trump’s combative push to reshape higher education, which has roiled academia, disrupted campus life and spilled into courts across the country.
—Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
The public backing of Crockett, known for controversial statements and confrontational tactics, signals a potential shift toward more combative political messaging.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025
Bellingham combines this on-ball brilliance with combative aggression off it.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for combative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combative
Adjective
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Addressing the Obvious Critiques Yes, 3–4% real growth is aggressive.—
Don Muir,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
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After the aggressive animal showed no signs of leaving, the woman’s boyfriend fatally shot it, officials said.—
Paloma Chavez,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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The ceasefire plan, which has been approved by Israeli officials, won a cool initial reaction Thursday from the militant group, but President Donald Trump said Friday that negotiators were nearing a deal.—
ABDEL KAREEM HANA,
Arkansas Online,
30 May 2025
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In December, after years of stalemate in the war, Assad’s long-standing authoritarian regime collapsed, in the face of an unexpected offensive by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamist militant group once affiliated with al-Qaida.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Chicago Tribune,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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That’s coupled with a more hostile political environment for diversity-forward businesses.—
Phoebe Liu,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
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The crowd was right on top of you there, the students rimmed the court, the very definition of a hostile environment.—
Jim Calhoun with Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
8 June 2025
Adjective
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The contentious professional relationship between billionaire Elon Musk and President Donald Trump has seemingly come to an end.—
Maria Gracia Santillana Linares,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Everything's an 'emergency': How Trump's executive order record pace is testing the courts Lawmakers often shy away from piling too much into one bill because each contentious provision spurs its own opposition.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
8 June 2025
Adjective
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The record indicates that the instant offense has elements of brutality, violence, assaultive behavior or conscious selection of victim's vulnerability indicating a conscious disregard for the lives, safety, or property of others, such that the offender poses a continuing threat to public safety.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2025
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The effect is assaultive but clever, jolting listeners’ reflexes and then toying with their attention.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Combative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combative. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.
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