battled

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

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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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4

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 battled For years now, health officials have battled with drugs being cut into fentanyl that not only increase its strength, but also increase the risk of a fatal overdose. David Ferrara, The Enquirer, 4 Sep. 2025 But Aaron Boone's club has battled back and placed itself firmly in the race for the American League East. Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025 Jones, the co-host of Today’s third hour, has been absent from the show all year as her husband Uche Ojeh battled glioblastoma. Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025 Hill’s mother has battled addiction for many years. Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025 By 25, Austen had already hit burnout, battled mental health struggles and faced a financial rock bottom. Karin Eldor, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025 The athlete, who battled addiction to painkillers, earned the titular nickname due to his ability to quickly and easily dispense with his opponents. Eric Andersson, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025 Jimmy Ellis battled Alzheimer’s disease at the end of his life and passed away when Jacob was in middle school. Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 30 Aug. 2025 Sixth-place Portland (10-0-8, 38 points) is winless in three but battled to a scoreless draw with San Diego last weekend. Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 30 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for battled
Verb
  • Additionally, buzzyworthy artists Shaboozey and Dasha each scored nods in the MTV Push Performance of the Year category, while Wallen competed for Artist of the Year, Best Album and Song of the Summer.
    Matthew Leimkuehler, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Brandt also competed in track and field and played on a club volleyball team.
    Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Tennessee faced a third-and-10 at their own 35-yard line, and the crowd at Empower Field was at a fever pitch.
    Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Democrats faced a fair amount of criticism from their ranks over going along with keeping the government open back in the spring.
    ABC News, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • White soldiers were reluctant to serve alongside the largely Black battalion, so the Harlem Hellfighters fought alongside the Allied French, fighting off enemy soldiers and becoming the first unit to reach the Rhine River.
    Alana Wise, NPR, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Imavov has fought four times since then.
    Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Two key points in the case were that board members who personally opposed the books took the action against the input of an advisory committee, and that the board members' action was based on speculative, not actual, fears of disruption.
    Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The county attorney’s office opposed Gooden’s petition to the court in 2020 to restore his firearms rights and a judge did not restore them.
    Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The first cohort of seniors to have contended — not always enthusiastically — with a digital society has reached the age when cognitive impairment becomes more common.
    Paul Spann, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
  • As Elizabeth Hardwick and others have contended over the years, criticism has too often diminished as a form of argument and rigorous engagement.
    David Remnick, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Lorain Police, while doing proactive patrolling in the area, encountered a man and exchanged gunfire with him at the dead end of River Bend Drive, Elyria Police Chief James Welsh told reporters at the time.
    Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Off the coast of Monterey Bay, California, researchers encountered several unusual creatures in the deep, cold water.
    Lauren Liebhaber September 8, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Having only raced four times in her career, this Brad Cox trainee strutted her stuff on August 28 in an allowance race on opening day at this Franklin, Kentucky track.
    Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The tone was set on the opening play from scrimmage when defensive back John Nestor picked off a pass and raced 29 yards down the Northwestern State sideline for a touchdown that put the Gophers on top 7-0.
    Frank Rajkowski, Twin Cities, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Hopes were raised for a rapprochement between Harry and his father in July when aides of Harry and the King met for the first time in London.
    Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Garcia’s signing was met with total consensus across the club, and Flick was one of the biggest advocates for Rashford’s move to Barca.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Battled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/battled. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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