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
• wrestles
• hits
• skirmishes (with)
• punches
• scrimmages (with)
• strikes
• boxes
• knocks
• pounds
• socks
• slaps
• belts
• jousts
• smacks
• spars
• swipes
• slams
• slugs
• buffets
• hammers
• smites
• bangs
• whales
• swats
• whacks
• thumps
• brawls
• batters
• bashes
• pastes
• bats
• slogs
• 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

This week, an over-the-hill Kevin Hart, (pickleball) court battles, and Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie (and its related series), among others, demand your attention. — Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 24 July 2026

These individuals are already fighting some of the most difficult battles of their lives. — Jigar Thakkar, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

In the decade since their divorce, Jolie and Pitt have been embroiled in a series of legal battles that have pulled back the curtain on their allegedly tumultuous family life. — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 22 July 2026

The battle at left guard Hortiz has built a deep roster, and that means there will be battles at several positions. — Daniel Popper, New York Times, 22 July 2026

The arrests mark the latest chapter in years of legal battles spanning multiple countries. — Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 21 July 2026

There will be no shortage of intriguing position battles when UM begins fall practice during the first week of August. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026

Many of these battles played out in fits of gangland violence. — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026

Messi battles on Sunday as the world champion Argentina takes on Spain. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026

Verb

Anthony Joshua battles Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, headlining a significant boxing card on July 25, 2026. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026

Staten battles his own father, former Senator Sam Kirkland (Brett Cullen), who takes control of the family ranch, reigniting a lifelong feud between the stubborn father and son. — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 24 July 2026

The warnings come as Europe battles a persistent heatwave this summer. — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 20 July 2026

Both the poem and the film center around Odysseus, the Greek king of Ithaca, who battles his way back home after the Trojan War. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026

Emmet Sheehan battles through 5⅓ strong innings and Shohei Ohtani belts his ninth leadoff homer, but the Dodgers are swept for the first time this season. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026

If Wagner misses time again, if Suggs battles injuries again or if the roster isn’t completely healthy in April, expectations aren’t going anywhere. — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 June 2026

Right Now As the country battles a deadly second wave, international donations are helping local communities access essential items. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 June 2026

Both wholesome kids get caught in the crossfire when He-Man battles Skeletor’s army of Darth Vader lookalikes in — where else? — Jeffrey Ressner, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2026