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

Derived Forms

• ˈcombatively, adverb
• ˈcombativeness, noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of combative¹

First recorded in 1825–35; combat + -ive

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.

From Washington Post

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.

From Washington Post

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.

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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

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?

• belligerent
• quarrelsome
• argumentative
• pugnacious
• combatant

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

• combat

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

• fight
• argue
• dispute
• defensive
• press conference

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