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

Other Word Forms

• combatively adverb
• combativeness noun
• combativity noun
• uncombative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of combative¹

First recorded in 1825–35; combat + -ive

Example Sentences

Attorney General Pam Bondi faced off with a combative Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, fending off a series of tough questions about the Justice Department’s handling of the case against Jeffrey Epstein.

From Salon

It’s an extreme rarity to see a stage filled with Black women, says Claudia Logan, who plays a combative but lovable stylist named Bea.

From Los Angeles Times

The proceedings, which this time will only last four days, are set to be combative.

From BBC

The announcement of the plan comes just days after Netanyahu attacked the recognition of a Palestinian state by multiple Western countries during a combative speech at the UN General Assembly.

From BBC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has attacked the recognition of a Palestinian State by multiple Western countries during a combative speech at the UN General Assembly.

From BBC

Related Words

• antagonistic 
• bellicose 
• belligerent 
• cantankerous 
• contentious 
• energetic 

When To Use

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.