Synonyms of battles

battles 1 of 2

noun

plural of battle

1

as in fights

a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective

passing the medical licensing exam was an uphill battle, but she succeeded

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fights
• struggles
• efforts
• frays
• throes
• works
• attempts
• pains
• scrabbles
• exertions
• wars
• endeavors
• tries
• toils
• troubles
• grinds
• tussles
• contests
• conflicts
• combats
• travails
• labors
• sweats
• warfares
• drudgeries
• strifes
• essays

2

as in skirmishes

a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups

a battle between rival gangs left two people lying dead on the street

Synonyms & Similar Words

• skirmishes
• fights
• clashes
• struggles
• tussles
• brawls
• scuffles
• contests
• conflicts
• dustups
• confrontations
• duels
• combats
• scrimmages
• frays
• altercations
• fracases
• scraps
• quarrels
• scrums
• disputes
• blows
• pitched battles
• hassles
• melees
• fistfights
• slugfests
• fisticuffs
• broils
• jousts
• squabbles
• affrays
• battles royal
• tangles
• controversies
• mix-ups
• donnybrooks
• spats
• rows
• disagreements
• wrangles
• punch-ups
• ruckuses
• punch-outs
• rough-and-tumbles
• tiffs
• ructions
• contretemps
• catfights
• arguments
• grapples
• fallings-out
• misunderstandings
• face-offs
• free-for-alls
• cross fires
• handgrips
• kickups
• argle-bargles
• argy-bargies

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• truces

3

as in actions

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

• actions
• fields
• combats
• fires
• attacks
• hostilities
• firefights
• warfares
• operations
• services
• pitched battles
• duties

4

as in rivalries

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

• rivalries
• struggles
• duels
• confrontations
• conflicts
• wars
• competitions
• contentions
• contests
• matches
• warfares
• clashes
• dogfights
• combats
• strifes
• ball games
• sweepstakes
• showdowns
• tugs-of-war
• face-offs
• grapples
• debates
• disputes
• quarrels
• disputations
• collisions
• horse races
• arguments
• controversies
• frictions
• disagreements
• nail-biters
• discords
• wrangles
• rows
• dissensions

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• harmonies
• concords
• peaces

battles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of battle

1

as in competes

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

• competes
• fights
• races
• contends
• rivals
• vies
• faces off
• challenges
• plays
• maneuvers
• engages
• goes out
• jostles
• works
• jockeys
• tries out
• trains

2

as in faces

to enter into contest or conflict with

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• faces
• encounters
• meets
• fights
• engages
• takes on
• rivals
• contends
• opposes
• emulates

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• escapes
• eludes
• retreats
• evades

3

as in combats

to oppose (someone) in physical conflict

the two armies battled each other for control of the bridge

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fights
• combats
• wars (against)
• duels
• clashes (with)
• beats
• skirmishes (with)
• hits
• wrestles
• punches
• scrimmages (with)
• strikes
• boxes
• knocks
• socks
• pounds
• slaps
• belts
• jousts
• smacks
• spars
• swipes
• slugs
• slams
• buffets
• hammers
• smites
• bangs
• whales
• swats
• whacks
• thumps
• brawls
• batters
• bashes
• pastes
• slogs
• bats
• tussles
• bumps
• wallops
• grapples
• thwacks
• bops
• bludgeons
• scuffles
• clobbers
• collides

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• submits
• gives up
• surrenders

4

as in opposes

to strive to reduce or eliminate

we must battle hunger and poverty wherever they exist

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fights
• opposes
• combats
• counters
• contends (with)
• resists
• confronts
• oppugns
• withstands
• thwarts
• foils
• frustrates
• faces
• baffles
• checkmates
• meets
• defies

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• advances
• encourages
• promotes
• suffers
• fosters
• cultivates
• bears
• furthers
• nourishes
• endures
• advocates
• supports
• forwards
• nurtures
• backs
• abides
• endorses
• upholds
• champions

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of battles

Noun

But a judge has now paused construction across the region, giving a major boost to landowners who have sought to impede the wall by refusing to cooperate with government surveyors, protesting at county meetings and gearing up for court battles. — Rebecca Santana, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Though their eligibility battles remain unsettled, both players took part in Thursday’s 45-minute open practice at Allen Fieldhouse as full-fledged members of KU’s 2026-27 team. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2026

The Pacific had already seen several battles—from Wake Island and Midway, to the Philippines and the ongoing campaign for Guadalcanal. — Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026

And just like that, the auditions are done and the battles have begun. — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 7 Oct. 2026

As a consequence, across the United States, Italian-American organizations and conservative advocacy groups have fought legal battles against the removal of Columbus statues or the renaming of the holiday to Indigenous Peoples Day. — Ed Simon, JSTOR Daily, 7 Oct. 2026

That number is around 40% on Long Island, where homeowners are bracing for high costs and battles over the thermostat this winter. — CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

The games focus on large-scale, online multiplayer battles between opposing military forces. — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026

Among the most historically significant material are Nelson’s handwritten reports on the battles of the Nile and Copenhagen, as well as his battle plans for Trafalgar. — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Verb

Under Paris France, 2024 A female scientist battles a killer shark who turns up in the Seine. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026

Harald’s death comes as Charles battles an undisclosed type of cancer. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 10 Sep. 2026

Pitt stars as a former Special Forces officer who battles the elements with his combat dog, named Odin. — Gerrad Hall, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026

But Xu’s fortunes have turned in four short years as Shein battles tariffs, political scrutiny and growing competition. — Dave Sebastian, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026

The youngest of late Lakers owner Jerry Buss’ six children, the brothers have made the Padres their first major investment as the family battles over the sale of its remaining Lakers stake. — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

The team comes up with scenarios in which Emi fights a mech or battles yakuza in the clouds, and the fights defy expectations. — Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026

Sierra Canyon battles a JSerra team looking to regain its former luster after finishing 3-7 in 2025. — Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026

Going overboard is likely when the Scorpio moon battles Jupiter. — Usa Today, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026