combative
Ready to scrap
Combative describes someone eager to argue or fight.
A combative witness challenges every question.
A combative stance signals readiness for conflict.
The word suggests aggression that may be excessive or unwarranted: She got combative when I asked about the missing funds.
Less negatively, it can mean spirited or pugnacious in competition.
Hostile and eager to clash
- pugnaciousInclined to quarrel
- truculentAggressively hostile disposition
- bellicoseInclined toward aggression
- hostileAggressively unfriendly
antagonistic · fierce · ferocious · violent · vicious · assaultive · forceful · intimidating
Inclined toward hostile encounters
- contentiousInclined toward disagreement
- quarrelsomeInclined to dispute
- disputatiousFond of arguing
- adversarialCharacterized by conflict
defiant · oppositional · contrarian · polemical · provocative · challenging · disagreeable · litigious
belligerent
Hostile and eager to clash
- pugnaciousInclined to quarrel
- truculentAggressively hostile disposition
- bellicoseInclined toward aggression
hostile · antagonistic · fierce · ferocious · violent · vicious · assaultive · forceful · intimidating · threatening
confrontational
Inclined toward hostile encounters
- contentiousInclined toward disagreement
- quarrelsomeInclined to dispute
- disputatiousFond of arguing
adversarial · defiant · oppositional · contrarian · polemical · provocative · challenging · disagreeable · litigious · contrary
boxing
Combat sport using fists
- wrestlingCombat sport requiring holds
- judoJapanese throwing discipline
- karateJapanese unarmed combat discipline
taekwondo · kickboxing · jiujitsu · fencing · grappling · sparring · kendo · aikido · capoeira · sambo
argument
Reasoned case or dispute
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
- contentionAssertion or rivalry
- dissentDisagreement with authority
friction · discord · criticism · rebuttal · polemic · rhetoric · cross-examination · sparring · challenge · opposition
- hostile attitudeshostile, aggressive, belligerent, adversarial, confrontational
- confrontation styleaggressive, passive, assertive, avoidant, diplomatic
- fiercebrutal, violent, savage, ferocious, fierce
- oppositionopponent, adversary, rival, foe, enemy
- approachesapproach, approaches, method, methods, way
- attitudespositive, negative, ambition, apathy, curiosity
combativefriendly
Showing kindness, warmth
amiable · amicable · genial · agreeable · good-natured
combativeconciliatory
Meant to placate
peaceful · peaceable · nonconfrontational · pacific · nonaggressive