combative
8 synonyms and 20 antonyms for combative, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Eager to fight or argue; aggressively confrontational.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
calm
conflict-free
dovish
nonaggressive
nonbellicose
nonbelligerent
noncombative
nonmartial
nonmilitaristic
nonviolent
pacific
passive
peaceful
unbellicose
unaggressive
unbelligerent
uncombative
unjingoistic
unmilitaristic
unwarlike
How to use combative
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
combative attitude
grow combative
combative style
Etymology
From combat plus the adjective suffix -ive.
Full origin of combative →Frequently asked questions
What does “combative” mean?
The word “combative” means eager to fight or argue; aggressively confrontational. In plain terms, quick to argue, challenge, or fight rather than cooperate.
How do you pronounce “combative”?
“Combative” is pronounced KOM-buh-tihv (/kəmˈbæ.tɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “combative” in a sentence?
Here is “combative” used in a sentence: “The senator grew combative when reporters questioned his record.”
What is the opposite of “combative”?
The opposite of “combative” — its antonyms — are calm, conflict-free, dovish, nonaggressive and nonbellicose.
What part of speech is “combative”?
“Combative” is an adjective.
