as in battling
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in combat
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in combating
to oppose (someone) in physical conflict
a proud people who have fiercely fought all invaders of their homeland
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in opposing
to strive to reduce or eliminate
a civil rights leader who dedicated his life to fighting prejudice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in competing
to engage in a contest
everyone on that street seems to be fighting to see who can create the gaudiest holiday lighting display
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in bickering
to express different opinions about something often angrily
if you kids continue to fight, I'm turning this car around and we're heading back home!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in resisting
to refuse to give in to
I tried to fight the temptation to eat another cookie—and lost
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fighting
ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
But this story isn’t just for pro-fighting fans.
—Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Oct. 2025
Some had joined Ukrainian combat units as volunteers, while others have sought to assist the Ukrainian people in non-fighting capacities.
—Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2023
But the computer model couldn’t distinguish fighting roosters from non-fighting roosters.
—Jeff Horwitz, WSJ, 17 Oct. 2021
Kevin Breuninger,sam Meredith,evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
Oil infrastructure damaged during the first Gulf War burned in the distance, scars that lingered long after the fighting stopped.
—Shawn Vandiver, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2026
Anunoby is physical enough fighting around the screen from Barnes to stay attached to Wembanyama.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Ongoing fighting threatens a 2018 peace deal.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
This week, Afghanistan said its forces had killed 150 Pakistani soldiers since the fighting began, while 28 Afghan troops were killed.
—Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
During his chat with Matthew McConaughey at the University of Texas, Timothée Chalamet had some fighting words for his fellow dancers.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Congress also controlled the power of the purse, and no fighting could go on for long without a specific appropriation of funds.
—Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026
The Department of Justice said Raymond Nunez, 53, was charged with buying, delivering, and possessing animals for an animal fighting venture, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Addie Citchens, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
The ferocity of Iran’s attacks on America’s Gulf allies, and the regime’s determination to keep fighting, have already come as a nasty surprise to him.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 7 Mar. 2026
Others began fighting, prompting New York City Police Department (NYPD) intervention.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Crews have been fighting what became a five-alarm fire since Thursday morning.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2026
Terrorists and the rogue nation that backs them are fighting asymmetric warfare against more powerful nations.
—Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 7 Mar. 2026
The meetings come as the Republican administration seeks to leverage military assets to restore dominance in the hemisphere while now also fighting a war in Iran.
—Joshua Goodman The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 6 Mar. 2026
It was meant to look like a stiletto blade from the Renaissance period, when the banking families were literally fighting each other to create these fonts of generational wealth.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Glycolic acid is great for people with more resilient skin who need an intensive acne-fighting treatment.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Speaking ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Johnson told the BBC that the troops should be sent to peaceful regions in non-fighting roles.
—ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
But this story isn’t just for pro-fighting fans.
—Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Oct. 2025
Some had joined Ukrainian combat units as volunteers, while others have sought to assist the Ukrainian people in non-fighting capacities.
—Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2023
But the computer model couldn’t distinguish fighting roosters from non-fighting roosters.
—Jeff Horwitz, WSJ, 17 Oct. 2021
Noun
Markets have churned in response to the fighting, which has massively disrupted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial energy corridor.
—Kevin Breuninger,sam Meredith,evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
Oil infrastructure damaged during the first Gulf War burned in the distance, scars that lingered long after the fighting stopped.
—Shawn Vandiver, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2026
Anunoby is physical enough fighting around the screen from Barnes to stay attached to Wembanyama.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Ongoing fighting threatens a 2018 peace deal.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
This week, Afghanistan said its forces had killed 150 Pakistani soldiers since the fighting began, while 28 Afghan troops were killed.
—Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
During his chat with Matthew McConaughey at the University of Texas, Timothée Chalamet had some fighting words for his fellow dancers.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Congress also controlled the power of the purse, and no fighting could go on for long without a specific appropriation of funds.
—Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026
The Department of Justice said Raymond Nunez, 53, was charged with buying, delivering, and possessing animals for an animal fighting venture, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
Nearby, pigeons are fighting over what, horrifyingly, appears to be a chicken strip.
—Addie Citchens, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
The ferocity of Iran’s attacks on America’s Gulf allies, and the regime’s determination to keep fighting, have already come as a nasty surprise to him.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 7 Mar. 2026
Others began fighting, prompting New York City Police Department (NYPD) intervention.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Crews have been fighting what became a five-alarm fire since Thursday morning.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2026
Terrorists and the rogue nation that backs them are fighting asymmetric warfare against more powerful nations.
—Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 7 Mar. 2026
The meetings come as the Republican administration seeks to leverage military assets to restore dominance in the hemisphere while now also fighting a war in Iran.
—Joshua Goodman The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 6 Mar. 2026
It was meant to look like a stiletto blade from the Renaissance period, when the banking families were literally fighting each other to create these fonts of generational wealth.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Glycolic acid is great for people with more resilient skin who need an intensive acne-fighting treatment.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 28 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fighting
Noun
-
Drawing on lessons learned in combat, the Russians also upgraded the drones with more sophisticated counter-jamming equipment, more lethal warheads and greater endurance.—
Nathan Hodge,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
-
In 2014, the duo brought to the screen the epic story of Claire Randall, a British combat nurse who is mysteriously transported back to 1743 Scotland and marries Scottish warrior Jamie Fraser to survive.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Firefighters are still battling the five-alarm blaze, which is expected to continue burning for several days.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Vucevic sustained the injury while battling for position with Mavericks big man Moussa Cisse on an entry pass.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Orange County leaders again heard a deluge of comments from the public, with several dozen opposing the county’s agreement with the federal government that allows the detention of immigration detainees at the jail.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Mar. 2026
-
There was no public record, however, of anyone submitting letters to the board opposing or supporting the project before Tuesday’s vote, and there was also no public comment Tuesday against the project.—
Lisa Schencker,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Only when Russia and Belarus, separately, took FIS (the international ski and snowboard federation) to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in December 2025, did their competing in Italy become possible.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The researchers are now testing the process on real battery waste and more complex electronic scrap streams containing additional competing ions and lower metal concentrations.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Her grandparents are constantly bickering, worn down by the pressures of keeping the family hotel afloat.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The choice not to pick a team has left fans bickering with each other.—
Mike Sullivan,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The man pleaded no contest to felony counts of stalking and vandalism and a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest in 2019.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The men were arrested on suspicion of assaulting a peace officer with a deadly weapon, resisting a peace officer, possession of drug paraphernalia and other charges.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In the cat-and-mouse game of drone warfare, the Ukrainians have also built up a layered defense against the Shahed and its variants – and claim to have seen significant success in countering Russian drone swarms.—
Nathan Hodge,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Iraqis breathed a few gulps of freedom before secular warfare between Sunni and Shia militias began tearing the country apart.—
Nolan Finley,
Twin Cities,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Hefets’ detainments were part of a national policy toward antisemitism, defined over decades in the shadow of the Holocaust and sharpened recently under the helm of Felix Klein, the first federal commissioner for combating antisemitism.—
Shira Li Bartov,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Maintaining a healthy lawn is the first step to combating weeds, but sometimes additional control strategies are needed.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fighting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fighting. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
