combative

com·bat·ive

adj \kəm-ˈba-tiv\

Definition of COMBATIVE

: marked by eagerness to fight or contend

— com·bat·ive·ly adverb

— com·bat·ive·ness noun

Examples of COMBATIVE

1. When the police tried to arrest him, he became combative.
2. <channeling his naturally combative impulses into sports>

First Known Use of COMBATIVE

1826

Related to COMBATIVE

Synonyms: aggressive, agonistic, argumentative, assaultive, bellicose, brawly, chippy, belligerent, confrontational, contentious, discordant, disputatious, feisty, gladiatorial, militant, pugnacious, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent, warlike

Antonyms: nonaggressive, nonbelligerent, pacific, peaceable, peaceful, unbelligerent, uncombative, uncontentious

Related Words: antagonistic, fierce, hostile, hot-tempered; acidic, bearish, bilious, bristly, choleric, crabby, cranky, cross, disagreeable, dyspeptic, fractious, fretful, grouchy, grumpy, huffy, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, irascible, irritable, ornery, peevish, pettish, petulant, prickly, querulous, rude, snappish, snappy, stroppy [British], surly, testy, touchy, ugly, waspish; savage, vicious; battling, fighting, warring

Near Antonyms: anti-imperialist, antimilitarist, unwarlike; affable, amiable, amicable, benevolent, complaisant, conciliatory, cordial, easygoing, friendly, genial, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, ingratiating, kindhearted, obliging, pleasant, sociable; calm, quiet, relaxed, serene, tranquil; benign, gentle, kindly, mild

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