Synonyms of battle

battle 1 of 2

noun

ˈba-tᵊl 

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

• fight
• struggle
• fray
• effort
• throes
• attempt
• scrabble
• grind
• war
• pains
• work
• warfare
• endeavor
• try
• exertion
• combat
• toil
• trouble
• contest
• conflict
• labor
• strife
• drudgery
• tussle
• travail
• sweat
• essay

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

• skirmish
• clash
• fight
• struggle
• tussle
• fray
• contest
• scuffle
• combat
• brawl
• duel
• conflict
• confrontation
• scrimmage
• dustup
• altercation
• fracas
• scrum
• quarrel
• scrap
• pitched battle
• melee
• blows
• dispute
• battle royal
• rough-and-tumble
• hassle
• spat
• slugfest
• fistfight
• fisticuffs
• joust
• face-off
• tangle
• row
• broil
• squabble
• affray
• donnybrook
• mix-up
• controversy
• free-for-all
• ruckus
• punch-up
• ruction
• wrangle
• punch-out
• falling-out
• grapple
• catfight
• tiff
• cross fire
• argument
• contretemps
• misunderstanding
• disagreement
• kickup
• handgrips
• argle-bargle
• argy-bargy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• truce

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

• field
• combat
• attack
• fire
• hostilities
• action
• firefight
• warfare
• operations
• pitched battle
• service
• single combat
• duty

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

• rivalry
• struggle
• duel
• competition
• warfare
• war
• confrontation
• conflict
• contention
• contest
• match
• combat
• strife
• clash
• showdown
• dogfight
• tug-of-war
• face-off
• ball game
• sweepstakes
• debate
• grapple
• dispute
• disputation
• quarrel
• collision
• horse race
• friction
• argument
• discord
• controversy
• nail-biter
• disagreement
• row
• dissension
• wrangle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• peace
• harmony
• concord

battle

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to compete

to engage in a contest

the two teams, which have long been archrivals, will battle on the court for the state championship

Synonyms & Similar Words

• compete
• fight
• race
• contend
• rival
• vie
• face off
• challenge
• play
• engage
• maneuver
• try out
• go out
• work
• jostle
• jockey
• train

2

as in to face

to enter into contest or conflict with

the two top-seeded tennis players battled each other for almost three hours

Synonyms & Similar Words

• face
• encounter
• meet
• fight
• engage
• take on
• rival
• contend
• oppose
• emulate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• escape
• evade
• retreat
• elude

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

• fight
• combat
• war (against)
• duel
• clash (with)
• skirmish (with)
• beat
• wrestle
• hit
• joust
• strike
• punch
• scrimmage (with)
• brawl
• knock
• box
• smack
• slug
• slap
• belt
• smite
• pound
• batter
• tussle
• buffet
• whack
• bang
• bat
• hammer
• clobber
• spar
• bludgeon
• slog
• slam
• swipe
• bop
• sock
• paste
• bash
• thump
• swat
• whale
• scuffle
• wallop
• grapple
• bump
• collide
• thwack

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• submit
• give up
• surrender

4

as in to oppose

to strive to reduce or eliminate

we must battle hunger and poverty wherever they exist

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fight
• oppose
• combat
• counter
• resist
• contend (with)
• confront
• withstand
• oppugn
• thwart
• foil
• frustrate
• face
• checkmate
• baffle
• defy
• meet

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• advance
• promote
• forward
• encourage
• cultivate
• foster
• further
• suffer
• endure
• bear
• support
• nurture
• abide
• nourish
• advocate
• back
• uphold
• endorse
• champion

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of battle

Noun

Looking ahead, Gatere sees a future where ensuring women's safety, dignity and inclusion in the industry is no longer a constant battle, allowing more of them to focus on bigger ambitions. — Christopher Clark, NPR, 5 July 2026

The one-time fading mural was saved from destruction after a nine-year battle by local residents, civic leaders, businesses and governmental agencies, who celebrated its restoration in 2023. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026

Verb

Spain has battled frequent and severe heat waves in recent years, with temperatures often exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). — ABC News, 11 July 2026

Hundreds of firefighters and aircraft are battling a massive wildfire in Spain’s Almería province that has killed at least 12 people and scorched an area roughly the size of Manhattan. — Sergio Rodrigo, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026

Phrases Containing battle

• battle royal