1
as in to fight
to oppose (someone) in physical conflict
a general eager to combat the enemy on his own ground
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to oppose
to strive to reduce or eliminate
must marshal all of our resources to combat this disease
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in field
active fighting during the course of a war
a soldier who served throughout the war without actually seeing combat
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in skirmish
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
the two stags entered a furious combat for dominance of the herd
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in battle
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the fierce ideological combat between the religionists and the secularists
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of combat
Andy Rose, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025
Miami needed Herro in the fight to combat Cleveland’s shooting, but he was not even involved in most of the action in the fourth quarter.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025
The new aircraft is designed to carry out the same kinds of missions as the Black Hawk—transporting troops and equipment into combat zones—but with greater range, speed, and survivability.
—Tahar Rajab, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combat
Verb
The university received a failing grade from the Anti-Defamation League last year, which released a report assessing how US colleges combat antisemitism and protect Jewish students.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025
Miami needed Herro in the fight to combat Cleveland’s shooting, but he was not even involved in most of the action in the fourth quarter.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
Pilot Berry, who also served a combat tour in Vietnam in 1969 and ’70, is also left with sadness at the war’s futility.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025
The new aircraft is designed to carry out the same kinds of missions as the Black Hawk—transporting troops and equipment into combat zones—but with greater range, speed, and survivability.
—Tahar Rajab, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combat
Verb
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Byram was fighting unsuccessfully to keep Norwich City in the Premier League under Farke when Bielsa was taking Leeds to that EFL title.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
9 May 2025
-
Lawyers for the county are fighting to shield much of the expert testimony from a jury if the case goes to trial.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2025
Verb
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The Motion Picture Association adamantly opposed that idea, and supported the right of other countries to offer film incentives.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
5 May 2025
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The House narrowly approved a spending blueprint that aims to find $1.5 trillion in spending cuts before Trump released his proposal, despite the defections of two Republicans who joined Democrats in opposing the plan.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
Noun
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Both teams’ trainers joined EMS to get him onto a cart and off the field.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
4 May 2025
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Related article Fan in critical condition after accidental fall onto the field at PNC Park during Pirates-Cubs game, police say The 20-year-old Markwood, fell from the right field wall onto the field and was listed in critical condition.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
3 May 2025
Noun
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But the pause comes amid a backdrop of daily skirmishes, largely by drone warfare.—
Stephen J. Beard,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
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Not about the economic turmoil from tariffs, any one of the skirmishes playing out abroad, or a surprise shake-up in his White House staff.—
Will Gottsegen,
The Atlantic,
9 May 2025
Noun
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As soon as hot weather sets in, chickweed begins to slow its growth, often dying out by midsummer, but don’t think the battle is won.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 May 2025
-
As the battle for Champions League football hots up, Nottingham Forest have a must-win game against their local rivals Leicester City, having taken just seven points from their last six Premier League games.—
Holly Shand,
New York Times,
8 May 2025
Noun
-
Whitmer wages charm offensive against Trump as other Dems attack As much as Trump enjoys skewering his rivals, the president has lauded Whitmer on multiple occasions since returning to power.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
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The next year, several of them banded together to launch their own attack on the Ottoman empire.—
Margaret MacMillan,
The Atlantic,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The following day, however, Mercury will meet Mars in a stubborn square, triggering a clash between the need for practicality and discernment versus the desire to express oneself boldly and with pride.—
Staff Author,
People.com,
1 May 2025
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India has been a nuclear power for over 50 years, possessing an arsenal that is publicly clandestine but capable in warfare—notably against its neighboring country, Pakistan, amid their decades-long clash over Kashmir.—
Nick Mordowanec
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
She is locked in a bitter rivalry with the Bears, whose growing presence and destructive ways threaten the land she is sworn to protect, by any means necessary.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
8 May 2025
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While their rivalry has had plenty of back-and-forth, this match may be the easiest to predict.—
Jeremy Hanna,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Combat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combat. Accessed 14 May. 2025.
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