Synonyms of battled

battled

verb

past tense of battle

1

as in competed

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

• competed
• fought
• contended
• raced
• vied
• rivaled
• challenged
• played
• faced off
• engaged
• maneuvered
• jockeyed
• worked
• jostled
• went out
• tried out
• trained

2

as in faced

to enter into contest or conflict with

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• faced
• encountered
• met
• fought
• engaged
• took on
• opposed
• contended
• rivaled
• emulated

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• escaped
• retreated
• evaded
• eluded

3

as in fought

to oppose (someone) in physical conflict

the two armies battled each other for control of the bridge

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fought
• combated
• beat
• clashed (with)
• dueled
• wrestled
• skirmished (with)
• warred (against)
• hit
• knocked
• punched
• struck
• slapped
• smacked
• slugged
• buffeted
• sparred
• battered
• pounded
• slammed
• thumped
• banged
• whacked
• clobbered
• scrimmaged (with)
• swiped
• swatted
• hammered
• slogged
• smote
• jousted
• socked
• batted
• bashed
• bopped
• bludgeoned
• pasted
• boxed
• tussled
• grappled
• walloped
• bumped
• scuffled
• belted
• collided
• brawled
• thwacked
• whaled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• submitted
• surrendered
• gave up

4

as in opposed

to strive to reduce or eliminate

we must battle hunger and poverty wherever they exist

Synonyms & Similar Words

• opposed
• fought
• combated
• countered
• resisted
• confronted
• withstood
• contended (with)
• thwarted
• oppugned
• faced
• frustrated
• baffled
• foiled
• defied
• checkmated
• met

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• encouraged
• advanced
• promoted
• suffered
• cultivated
• fostered
• forwarded
• endured
• bore
• furthered
• nurtured
• supported
• advocated
• nourished
• backed
• upheld
• endorsed
• abided
• championed

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of battled

Fano, a loose network of ethnic Amhara militias, has battled federal forces in Amhara since 2023. — ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026

My siblings have battled with each other over control of Mom’s finances as well as her living arrangements so far. — Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2026

Koosman battled an assortment of injuries in 1971 and ’72 and for a time was relegated to the bullpen by Hodges’ successor Yogi Berra in ’72 before returning to the rotation and winding up 11-12. — Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2026

The Tar Heels battled to get back in the game, driving down the field (aided by two UM penalties) and scoring on a 15-yard pass from quarterback Edwards to Trech Kekahuna. — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 31 Oct. 2026

Barrie had previously been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and also battled idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a degenerative disease, since 2014. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2026

But the divisive veteran Israeli leader has scratched, scraped and literally battled his way back during a stormy three-year period of nonstop domestic crises and wars across the region. — Josef Federman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026

The fire broke out at the Eagle’s Nest in the Bavarian Alps on Friday evening, and firefighters battled the flames against strong winds. — Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Firefighters battled the blaze into the evening after thick plumes of smoke billowed over the quiet fishing hub, which is located 90 miles southwest of Portland and has just over 10,000 residents. — Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026