BATTLES Synonyms: 218 Similar and Opposite Words

battles 1 of 2

noun

plural of battle

as in fights

a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective passing the medical licensing exam was an uphill battle, but she succeeded

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Relevance

as in skirmishes

a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups a battle between rival gangs left two people lying dead on the street

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truces

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

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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

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battles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of battle

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

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as in faces

to enter into contest or conflict with the two top-seeded tennis players battled each other for almost three hours

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as in combats

to oppose (someone) in physical conflict the two armies battled each other for control of the bridge

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as in opposes

to strive to reduce or eliminate we must battle hunger and poverty wherever they exist

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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 battles

Noun

Through the personal stories of activists and intense courtroom battles, host Brendan Patrick Hughes explores themes of faith, rebellion, and the complexities of confronting injustice, ultimately offering a compelling blueprint for modern activism. —

Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026 This year’s Supreme Court election stands in stark contrast to the swing state’s previous two, where national spending records were set in battles over majority control. —

ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026 Watching people online waging battles with chess pieces seemed a whole lot safer than dealing with the reality of a global plague. —

Ben Mezrich, Vanity Fair, 6 Apr. 2026 Reading the losses For Adam Winkler, a constitutional law professor at UCLA who has tracked the administration’s legal battles closely, the losing streak had a clear through line. —

Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026 Both have walked away from battles licking their wounds. —

Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026 Understandably, some gamers may be skeptical or even alarmed, given the ethical issues and legal battles surrounding generative AI. —

Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 31 Mar. 2026 Yemen was in the middle of a civil war, and gun battles in the city were not unusual. —

Ryan Lucas, NPR, 30 Mar. 2026 In reality however — and sadly — this structure gave way to constant battles and micromanagement, often preventing the mayor from improving the system and enacting any real change. —

Dennis Walcott, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2026

Verb

Barred from his high school basketball team due to his temper, a hot-head, street-baller battles demons from his past and present to earn a spot on a summer league team and his last shot at a college basketball scholarship. —

Angelique Jackson, Variety, 8 Apr. 2026 Beth, who is voiced by Sarah Chalke, asks dad Rick (Ian Cardoni) in the footage as the family battles a beast comprised of couch cushions. —

Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026 Despite its decades-long transformation into a thriving hub for robotics, health care and higher education, Pittsburgh continually battles to shake off its 20th-century Rust Belt reputation in the national consciousness. —

Tim Derdenger, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026 The series ran from 1993 to 2001 and followed Ranger Cordell Walker, a Texas lawman who battles crime with a black belt and strong personal code. —

Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026 As fans debate whether to renew now, there is again a question mark hanging over the club, as Pereira battles to lead Forest clear of the threat of relegation. —

Paul Taylor, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026 Armed with beauty, daring, hustle, sheer force of will and unwavering ambition, Undine battles an entrenched elite, fearlessly courting controversy, until love and fortune align. —

Justin Kroll, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2026 Steve Kerr has repeatedly emphasized that the team needs to be creative to find spacing around Green while Curry battles runner’s knee, and the new starting lineup brought four capable 3-point shooters onto the floor. —

Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026 Sarah Nurse of Canada battles members of Team USA during the women's gold medal match. —

Doha Madani, NBC news, 25 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for battles

Noun

Privatized airports avoided long shutdown waits Privatizing airport security, some in the business argue, makes airport workers and travelers less vulnerable to becoming pawns in congressional fights over policy issues.

— Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
Privatization could help remove TSA from congressional funding fights.

— Reuters, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026