1
as in fight
a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective
passing the medical licensing exam was an uphill battle, but she succeeded
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in skirmish
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
a battle between rival gangs left two people lying dead on the street
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in field
active fighting during the course of a war
soldiers who desperately wanted to forget the horrors that they had witnessed in battle
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the chess game was a real battle between two of the world's best players
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
3
as in to fight
to oppose (someone) in physical conflict
the two armies battled each other for control of the bridge
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to oppose
to strive to reduce or eliminate
we must battle hunger and poverty wherever they exist
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of battle
Keith Laing, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
After the whistle After all the shenanigans in Game 2 and across the league’s playoffs series in general, NHL officials addressed the post-whistle battles with the players Thursday morning.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
Connecticut has a history of brush fires, including the 2024 Hawthorne Fire in Berlin, that took the life of a Wethersfield volunteer firefighter after he was killed when his utility task vehicle rolled over as emergency crews battled the historic blaze.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for battle
Noun
The comments as Tesla remains locked in a battle with Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD for the title of the world's largest electric vehicle maker.
—Keith Laing, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
After the whistle After all the shenanigans in Game 2 and across the league’s playoffs series in general, NHL officials addressed the post-whistle battles with the players Thursday morning.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
The army's seizure of power intensified longstanding armed resistance in Myanmar, as pro-democracy activists joined with ethnic armed groups that had been battling for decades for greater autonomy, leading to a civil war still affecting most of the country.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
Connecticut has a history of brush fires, including the 2024 Hawthorne Fire in Berlin, that took the life of a Wethersfield volunteer firefighter after he was killed when his utility task vehicle rolled over as emergency crews battled the historic blaze.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for battle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for battle
Noun
-
At one point, the crew shot a scene in which Whalen’s character joins a bar fight, shouting invectives at a hapless extra before pummelling him to the ground.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Denver police on Thursday arrested a 28-year-old man who investigators said shot and killed another man in a fight near South Broadway and West Maple Avenue, department officials said in a news release.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Pittsburgh Penguins staved off elimination for the second straight game with a clutch Game 5 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night, but celebrations were briefly halted when a skirmish erupted over a controversial hit on Sidney Crosby after the final buzzer.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Walker, in a 10-pitch skirmish, drew a walk.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Johnson and McCollum combined for 31 points on 12-of-27 shooting from the field after McCollum scored 32 points on his own in Game 2.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
He was surrounded by numerous family and Braves alumni during the ceremony, which was relocated from the field to the Milner Technology Conference Center due to rain.—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In December, Chelsea’s players looked inexplicably unprepared for the intensity of this long-time rivalry and were caught out via defensive errors.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
They also are slotted to host an ACC opponent, probably the Blue Devils, and an annual rivalry game against Florida State (on the road this year).—
Mark Long,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
News round-up FIFA plans to increase prize money and participation fees for the 48 competing nations at the World Cup.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Who’s this guy competing with in this room?—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When the 2025 season ended, the Vikings faced a steep salary-cap overage.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
We are faced with a vastly more consequential version of a Catch-22.—
Fintan O’Toole,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Netflix has set a big $25 billion stock buyback program as the streaming giant seeks to combat, or take advantage of, a lagging share price and Wall Street concerns around disappointing financial guidance.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
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Federal prosecutors charged multiple people linked to scam compounds in Cambodia and Myanmar, part of a broader effort by the United States to combat cybercrime, fraud, and predatory schemes against Americans.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This is already the second time this season that the Giants have had a dust-up with an opposing team, the other being during their recent series against the Reds.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
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Flipping the pro soccer schedule could threaten that commitment, according to the Franklin Park Defenders, a group of park neighbors who oppose the project.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Battle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/battle. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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