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
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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
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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
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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
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1
2
3
as in to fight
to oppose (someone) in physical conflict
the two armies battled each other for control of the bridge
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4
as in to oppose
to strive to reduce or eliminate
we must battle hunger and poverty wherever they exist
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of battle
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
25 June 2026
In Iraq, pilgrims converge on the holy city of Karbala, site of the battle and home to a shrine to Hussein.
—
ABC News,
25 June 2026
Malana Vantyler,
USA Today,
24 June 2026
The new production will follow Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo from their comic book origins to becoming global pop culture icons, battling familiar villains along the way.
—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for battle
Noun
The battle took place June 25 and 26, 1876, at what is now the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument Park.
—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
25 June 2026
In Iraq, pilgrims converge on the holy city of Karbala, site of the battle and home to a shrine to Hussein.
—
ABC News,
25 June 2026
Verb
When battling molehills, the engine feels excruciatingly winded.
—
Malana Vantyler,
USA Today,
24 June 2026
The new production will follow Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo from their comic book origins to becoming global pop culture icons, battling familiar villains along the way.
—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for battle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for battle
Noun
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Chicago police said that an argument between the victim and another male turned into a fight when the male pulled out a gun and shot the victim.
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In the room next door, Aaresh plays video games with his friend, like any other 12-year-old boy, taking a break from his homework and studying for a French exam, and oblivious to how his parents’ fight could change his life and those of others like him.
Noun
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While the war ended years before, the hostility spread from the stands — with skirmishes among supporters — into the field, when Maradona tricked the referee and the world with the World Cup’s most infamous goal, punching the ball into the net with his fist above England’s goalie Peter Shilton.
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Continue reading … — Two arrested as skirmishes erupt outside courthouse after Karmelo Anthony verdict.
Noun
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That might be a tall order on the field after Lionel Messi’s record-tying hat trick against Algeria led Argentina to victory on Tuesday.
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Pepi, Antonee Robinson and Malik Tillman formed a triangle on one side of the field, with Balogun, Weston McKennie and Sergiño Dest aligned on the other side.
Noun
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The story being told has centered around the Aerial Assassin, but could AEW shock everyone by taking the rivalry in a different direction?
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The biggest rivalry in the WNBA delivered.
Verb
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Roy, a deputy state attorney general, finished first in the city attorney primary by a wide margin and will compete against John McKinney, a deputy district attorney, in the runoff.
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Three centuries later, the librarians of Alexandria took charge of the text, collating competing versions, marking doubtful lines, imposing a measure of order on the teeming verses.
Verb
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Negotiators face a 60-day deadline to reach a final deal.
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Calmus knows firsthand what NICU families face.
Verb
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The ship also hosts several heavy artillery pieces, including a cannon on the bow with different types of rounds to combat different threats.
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Maintaining fitness through practices like cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and adequate sleep is crucial for combating decision fatigue, managing stress, and sustaining peak performance over a long career.
Verb
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But Newsom disagreed, and the opposing sides of the measure failed to reach a compromise ahead of the Thursday deadline to withdrawal a measure.
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The prospect of the wealthy fleeing the state is among the reasons that prominent Democrats such as Newsom opposed it, given California’s budget being so reliant on the state’s most prosperous residents.
Cite this Entry
“Battle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/battle. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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