combat

1 of 3

noun

com·​bat ˈkäm-ˌbat How to pronounce combat (audio)
1
: a fight or contest between individuals or groups
2
3
: active fighting in a war : action
casualties suffered in combat

combat

2 of 3

verb

com·​bat kəm-ˈbat How to pronounce combat (audio)
ˈkäm-ˌba-
combated or combatted; combating or combatting

intransitive verb

: to engage in combat : fight

transitive verb

1
: to fight with : battle
2
: to struggle against
especially : to strive to reduce or eliminate
combat pollution

combat

3 of 3

adjective

com·​bat ˈkäm-ˌbat How to pronounce combat (audio)
1
: relating to combat
combat missions
2
: designed or destined for combat
combat boots
combat troops
Choose the Right Synonym for combat

oppose, combat, resist, withstand mean to set oneself against someone or something.

oppose can apply to any conflict, from mere objection to bitter hostility or warfare.

opposed the plan

combat stresses the forceful or urgent countering of something.

combat disease

resist implies an overt recognition of a hostile or threatening force and a positive effort to counteract or repel it.

resisting temptation

withstand suggests a more passive resistance.

trying to withstand peer pressure

Example Sentences

Noun Some of these soldiers have never seen combat. He was killed in combat. Verb The drug helps combat infection. She dedicated her life to combating poverty. Exercise can help combat the effects of stress. The mayor pledged to combat crime. They have been combating the rebels for months. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
And on Memorial Day, his mother will go to a veterans cemetery to visit him, even though Decker never saw combat. Petula Dvorak, Anchorage Daily News, 30 May 2023 But, over 70 years later, in July 2021, DPAA historians conducting research into soldiers who went missing from combat around Reipertswiller exhumed one of the 37 sets of remains from the Ardennes American Cemetery and sent them to the DPAA Laboratory for analysis. Gina Martinez, CBS News, 30 May 2023 Remains missing for decades In the months following the combat, Story’s remains could not be found or identified and he was not recorded as a prisoner of war, the joint statement said. Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN, 29 May 2023 But Hanna Maliar, Ukraine’s deputy minister of defense, said on Saturday that Ukraine had halted combat operations there for now. Andrés R. Martínez, New York Times, 27 May 2023 Veterans Day is observed on Nov. 11 to signify the Armistice that ended combat in World War I in 1918. Camille Fine, USA TODAY, 26 May 2023 Seasonal versions of a classic ankle boot or combat boot, or something a bit bolder like a funky cowboy boot, are easy ways to carry your favorite fall and winter footwear staple into the warmer months. Aemilia Madden, harpersbazaar.com, 26 May 2023 Like the games, the series will feature over-the-top vehicular combat centered around cars decked with machine guns and saw blades. Rory Appleton, The Indianapolis Star, 25 May 2023 The sport has started to carve out a niche among combat sport fans. Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 May 2023
Verb
The company pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Lacey Act, which combats wildlife trafficking, in violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Patrick Whittle, Anchorage Daily News, 7 June 2023 Public health leaders need to improve communications — both to combat misinformation and to make the public more aware of available resources. Elvia Limón, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2023 Critics blame the turmoil on Erdogan’s policy of lowering interest rates to promote growth, which runs contrary to conventional economic thinking that calls for raising rates to combat inflation. Suzan Fraser And Cinar Kiper, BostonGlobe.com, 3 June 2023 Infused with rosemary extract and apple cider vinegar, this gel-like serum helps combat thinning and shedding and encourages a thicker and healthier-looking head of hair. Sophie Dweck, Town & Country, 2 June 2023 This kind of care can help combat the societal discrimination, stigma, and marginalization transgender and gender-diverse individuals often face. Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 2 June 2023 There is not a clear path to combat this, but any solution will undoubtedly require more physicians to engage in the political and advocacy spaces, not less. Katie Mchugh, Gabriel Bosslet, STAT, 1 June 2023 Sometimes your scalp needs a bit of extra moisture to combat psoriasis, which is where Dermarest Psoriasis Medicated Shampoo Plus Conditioner stands out. Lindsay Modglin, Health, 1 June 2023 Opioid Overdose Prevention Project expenses are funded by the Illinois Opioid Allocation Agreement through which settlement funds from opioid manufacturers and distributors are distributed to states for use in combatting the opioid epidemic, the release states. Pioneer Press, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2023
Adjective
In a recent visit to Baghdad to meet with Iraqi leaders, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said U.S. forces are ready to remain in Iraq, in a non-combat role, at the invitation of the government. Lolita C. Baldor And Tara Copp, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Mar. 2023 He’s been awarded a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the highest award for non-combat valor. San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Feb. 2023 Reed is at least the sixth American killed in Ukraine, including some fighters and some in non-combat roles, The Washington Post reported. Brian Amaral, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Feb. 2023 As of 2021, women made up 15% of Taiwan’s military, but serve mostly in non-combat roles, the CIA Factbook says. Wayne Chang, CNN, 18 Jan. 2023 In ensuing years, immersing as an artist helped him through post-combat stress disorder. Dallas News, 22 Dec. 2022 Ukraine's cause is also boosted by non-combat drones and special equipment, such as the mine-detection technology and medical drones supplied to various NGOs by the Canadian company Draganfly. Yuriy Zaliznyak, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2022 The idea of supersonic non-combat aircraft flying for the Pentagon could finally be here. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 20 July 2022 Sadly, Bethesda's demo didn't include a VATS-like system that might emphasize loadout-specific tactics or give non-combat character archetypes a fighting chance. Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, 12 June 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'combat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French, from combatre to attack, fight, from Vulgar Latin *combattere, from Latin com- + battuere to beat

First Known Use

Noun

1546, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1564, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Adjective

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of combat was in 1546

Dictionary Entries Near combat

Cite this Entry

“Combat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/combat. Accessed 9 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

combat

1 of 2 noun
com·​bat ˈkäm-ˌbat How to pronounce combat (audio)
1
: a fight or contest between individuals or groups
2
3
: active fighting in a war : action
soldiers experienced in combat

combat

2 of 2 verb
com·​bat kəm-ˈbat How to pronounce combat (audio)
ˈkäm-ˌbat
combated or combatted; combating or combatting
1
: to fight with : battle
2
: to struggle against
especially : to strive to reduce or eliminate
combat disease

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