combative
OTHER WORDS FROM combative
com·bat·ive·ly, adverbcom·bat·ive·ness, com·ba·tiv·i·ty [kom-buh-tiv-i-tee], /ˌkɒm bəˈtɪv ɪ ti/, nounun·com·bat·ive, adjectiveWords nearby combative
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.
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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.
People are so combative on here. You can’t even ask a simple question about politics.
— N 1 R V O U S (@n1rve) November 15, 2020
Unsolicited advice though – people can negotiate without being adversarial and combative. We can express our concerns and assert ourselves without alienating those who are looking out for us.
— Dianna Dela Guerra (@diannalouise) November 16, 2020
This is such a combative press conference. Why can we not just have the facts on this crisis without all this political pandering and angry accusations from our elected officials?
— Tamara Sockol Dourney (@tamaradourney) March 20, 2020
Try using combative!
Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of combative?
A. pugnacious
B. belligerent
C. peaceful
D. quarrelsome