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# combative

adjective (combative, more combative, most combative)

«combative» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Combative means ready and eager to fight or argue. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/combative/#m1)
2. In sport, combative means playing hard and strongly against the other side. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/combative/#m2)

### In the lessons

In stories it describes a character who always picks arguments; in sports reports it praises or criticises a tough player. It tells the reader that someone likes to fight or argue. Phrases: «combative mood», «combative style», «a combative player».

### Examples

- The combative goat butted everyone who came near. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/combative/#x1)
- He was in a combative mood and argued with everyone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/combative/#x2)
- She is a combative tennis player who never gives up. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/combative/#x3)
- The debate became combative and loud. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/combative/#x4)
- Our dog is friendly, not combative. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/combative/#x5)
- Try not to be combative when someone disagrees with you. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/combative/#x6)

### Note

Stress: com-BAT-ive (UK) or COM-ba-tive. From «combat» (fighting). Not always bad: in sport it can mean brave and determined. Similar: aggressive, argumentative.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «combative» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/combative/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«combative» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/combative.html) on Mova free.