Standard Lemma guide

combative

adj · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈkɒm.bə.tɪv/
  • UK, uncommon: /kɒmˈbæ.tɪv/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: /kəmˈbæ.tɪv/
  • US: /ˈkɑm.bə.tɪv/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: K AH0 M B AE1 T IH0 V Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: K AA2 M B AE1 T IH2 V Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Given to fighting; disposed to engage in combat; pugnacious.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Their combative conduct leads to many problems.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adjective satellite

Meaning 2

having or showing a ready disposition to fight

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • bellicose young officers
  • a combative impulse
  • a contentious nature

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: battleful, bellicose

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

striving to overcome in argument

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a dialectical and agonistic approach

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: agonistic, agonistical

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective satellite

Meaning 4

inclined or showing an inclination to dispute or disagree, even to engage in law suits

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a style described as abrasive and contentious
  • a disputatious lawyer
  • a litigious and acrimonious spirit

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: contentious, disputatious, disputative, litigious

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English combat Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus Old French -ifbor. Middle English -yf English -ive English combative From combat + -ive.

Across languages

Translations

32 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Belarusian: ваяўні́чы (vajawníčy) — given to fighting
  • Bulgarian: воинствен (voinstven) — given to fighting
  • Catalan: combatiu — given to fighting
  • Danish: kamplysten — given to fighting
  • Danish: krigerisk — given to fighting
  • Dutch: strijdbaar — given to fighting
  • Dutch: strijdlustig — given to fighting
  • Esperanto: batalema — given to fighting
  • Finnish: riidanhaluinen — given to fighting
  • Finnish: taistelunhaluinen — given to fighting
  • Finnish: taistelutahtoinen — given to fighting
  • French: combatif — given to fighting
  • German: kampfeslustig — given to fighting
  • German: kampflustig — given to fighting
  • German: kämpferisch — given to fighting
  • German: streitlustig — given to fighting
  • German: streitsüchtig — given to fighting
  • German: streitbar — given to fighting
  • German: aggressiv — given to fighting
  • Irish: trodach — given to fighting
  • Italian: combattivo — given to fighting
  • Japanese: 喧嘩っ早い (kenkappayai) — given to fighting
  • Latin: pugnāx — given to fighting
  • Polish: wojowniczy — given to fighting
  • Portuguese: combativo — given to fighting
  • Romanian: combativ — given to fighting
  • Russian: боево́й (bojevój) — given to fighting
  • Russian: вои́нственный (voínstvennyj) — given to fighting
  • Russian: агресси́вный (agressívnyj) — given to fighting
  • Russian: драчли́вый (dračlívyj) — given to fighting
  • Spanish: combativo — given to fighting
  • Swedish: stridslysten — given to fighting