1
: a fight or contest between individuals or groups
2
3
: active fighting in a war : action
casualties suffered in combat
combated or combatted; combating or combatting
: to engage in combat : fight
1
: to fight with : battle
2
: to struggle against
especially
: to strive to reduce or eliminate
combat pollution
1
: relating to combat
combat missions
2
: designed or destined for combat
combat boots
combat troops
Synonyms
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.
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Recent Examples on the Web
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
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
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
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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
Phrases Containing combat
Articles Related to combat
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.
Copy Citation
More from Merriam-Webster on combat
Nglish: Translation of combat for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of combat for Arabic Speakers
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