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View synonyms for combative

combative

[ kuhm-bat-iv, kom-buh-tiv, kuhm- ]

adjective

  1. ready or inclined to fight; pugnacious:

    He displayed a most unpleasant, combative attitude.



combative

/ ˈkɒmbətɪv; ˈkʌm- /

adjective

  1. eager or ready to fight, argue, etc; aggressive
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • ˈcombatively, adverb
  • ˈcombativeness, noun
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Other Words From

  • com·bative·ly adverb
  • com·bative·ness com·ba·tiv·i·ty [kom-b, uh, -, tiv, -i-tee], noun
  • uncom·bative adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of combative1

First recorded in 1825–35; combat + -ive
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Example Sentences

It’s a sweet encapsulation of the pair’s relationship, which is mostly combative except when they’re sticking up for each other.

From Vox

However, they revealed Maxwell to have been a combative and loyal defender of Epstein, insistent at every turn that she was aware of no misdeeds by him and refusing to concede even basic information about their interactions.

A defensive and combative Ghislaine Maxwell, the onetime partner of Jeffrey Epstein, insisted in long-sealed court testimony made public Thursday that she had no knowledge of the deceased financier having sexual contact with minors.

Erdogan’s combative response to the clashes, which saw him attack the Armenian leadership and offer full support to Azerbaijan, marks a break with previous rounds of fighting in the region.

From Ozy

Blunt and combative, Sargent was one of the executives at the center of the price-fixing scandal over ebooks a decade ago, but more recently had turned his fire on libraries.

From Fortune

“We know how to fight, but we need weapons,” said Duarte, whose combative spirit remains undiminished by age.

“I think if you get combative and overly objecting, people are going to begin to get suspicious,” Edwards told me.

When Sara took her case before a panel of faculty members, she said she found them combative and insensitive.

As Gondry asks Chomsky about his childhood, the answer soon becomes clear: a skeptical, inquisitive, combative mind.

Like Socrates, Street Epistemologists are to understand themselves as inquisitive teachers, not combative lecturers.

During the reign of Mr. Cousins there was a rupture at the place, and many combative letters were written with reference to it.

Dick's rather combative look changed instantly into shamefacedness, and he shook hands again.

The little woman was so combative and incisive that this always seemed a necessary precaution on the part of that gentleman.

Many a woman is antagonistic, is combative, because she is forced into such a position, not because she herself desires it.

It is combative—in the sense that it shapes nature's forces—and it calls for a sense of artistry in its practitioners.

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More About Combative

What does combative mean?

Combative means inclined to fight or prone to being argumentative.

It’s especially used to describe someone who has become defensive and is disputing things in a belligerent way. It’s not commonly applied to someone who’s prone to starting physical fights.

It can also be used to describe situations in which someone or multiple people are acting this way, such as a combative press conference or a combative meeting. 

The word combatant is commonly used as a noun meaning one of the sides engaged in a fight, but it can also be used as an adjective meaning the same thing as combative.

Example: The senator became combative when faced with some tough questions during the town hall meeting.

Where does combative come from?

The first records of the word combative come from the 1800s. It ultimately comes from the Late Latin combattere, from com-, meaning “with” or “together,” and the Latin verb battuere, meaning “to strike” or “to beat.” The word battle is based on this same root. The suffix -ive is used to form adjectives.

Combative is always used negatively. It implies that the person is being defensive or overly argumentative. It has several synonyms that each have different shades of meaning, including belligerent, quarrelsome, argumentative, and pugnacious.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to combative

  • combatively (adverb)

What are some synonyms for combative?

What are some words that share a root or word element with combative

What are some words that often get used in discussing combative?

How is combative used in real life?

Combative is usually used in a negative way to criticize someone for being overly inclined to argue or dispute things.

 

Try using combative!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of combative?

A. pugnacious
B. belligerent
C. peaceful
D. quarrelsome

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