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
Relevance
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
3
as in combats
to oppose (someone) in physical conflict
the two armies battled each other for control of the bridge
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in opposes
to strive to reduce or eliminate
we must battle hunger and poverty wherever they exist
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of battles
Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
For example, one recent night, the room between Cardboard Corner Café and TableTop was set up for Warhammer, where enthusiasts collect, build, and paint miniatures, and fight strategic tabletop battles.
—Debra Skodack, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
In one of its most contentious battles, DERM issued pollution violations that forced Florida Power & Light to clean up cooling canals at Turkey Point.
—Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
But the battles in Washington over Amtrak funding and mission never end, which is why so many cars, like the Superliners on the Southwest Chief, were built between 1979 and 1996.
—Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Coulier, who has dealt with multiple health battles in recent years, hasn't been shy about admitting to the parallels between the song and his relationship with Morissette.
—Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Mar. 2026
The Chiefs are very familiar with Gilman from years of divisional battles, and Kansas City gets a quality Cook replacement for a cheaper price.
—Daniel Popper, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Jokic fighs his own battles Three minutes into the game, Jokic was visibly frustrated as George fronted him in the post, hooked the big man’s legs from behind and backed up into his space.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 3 Mar. 2026
To assess the risk of a union effort on its campus, Duke hired prominent law firm Proskauer, a mainstay in pro sports labor battles, to assess its vulnerability to those efforts.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 3 Mar. 2026
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
But as Pereira battles to ensure Forest’s fourth season back in the Premier League does not end in a return to the Championship, the manner of Sunday’s defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion felt concerning for numerous reasons.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 2 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
Extras sporting afros and ’70s garb walk past Potente, while the crew battles noisy busses to grab a few seconds of footage.
—Pat Saperstein, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026
Your self-confidence may take a hit when the Gemini moon battles Saturn.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
More than four years later, Sanchez still battles the emotional fallout.
—Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 26 Jan. 2026
Chris Mara spoke on behalf of Giants ownership Tuesday after John Harbaugh’s introductory press conference, confirming Mara’s rise to a more prominent role and influence in the organization as his brother, co-owner John Mara, battles cancer.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 20 Jan. 2026
Noun
Comfort battles formality fighting to break free.
—Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
For example, one recent night, the room between Cardboard Corner Café and TableTop was set up for Warhammer, where enthusiasts collect, build, and paint miniatures, and fight strategic tabletop battles.
—Debra Skodack, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
In one of its most contentious battles, DERM issued pollution violations that forced Florida Power & Light to clean up cooling canals at Turkey Point.
—Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
But the battles in Washington over Amtrak funding and mission never end, which is why so many cars, like the Superliners on the Southwest Chief, were built between 1979 and 1996.
—Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Coulier, who has dealt with multiple health battles in recent years, hasn't been shy about admitting to the parallels between the song and his relationship with Morissette.
—Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Mar. 2026
The Chiefs are very familiar with Gilman from years of divisional battles, and Kansas City gets a quality Cook replacement for a cheaper price.
—Daniel Popper, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Jokic fighs his own battles Three minutes into the game, Jokic was visibly frustrated as George fronted him in the post, hooked the big man’s legs from behind and backed up into his space.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 3 Mar. 2026
To assess the risk of a union effort on its campus, Duke hired prominent law firm Proskauer, a mainstay in pro sports labor battles, to assess its vulnerability to those efforts.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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
But as Pereira battles to ensure Forest’s fourth season back in the Premier League does not end in a return to the Championship, the manner of Sunday’s defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion felt concerning for numerous reasons.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 2 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
Extras sporting afros and ’70s garb walk past Potente, while the crew battles noisy busses to grab a few seconds of footage.
—Pat Saperstein, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026
Your self-confidence may take a hit when the Gemini moon battles Saturn.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
More than four years later, Sanchez still battles the emotional fallout.
—Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 26 Jan. 2026
Chris Mara spoke on behalf of Giants ownership Tuesday after John Harbaugh’s introductory press conference, confirming Mara’s rise to a more prominent role and influence in the organization as his brother, co-owner John Mara, battles cancer.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for battles
Noun
-
Some injuries stemmed from fights between detainees, including a man who said he had been kicked in the ear and battered in his ribs.—
Morgan Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Some injuries stemmed from fights between detainees, including a man who said he had been kicked in the ear and battered in his ribs.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The two also got into multiple skirmishes back in December during a recent Lakers-Suns game, including James knocking down Brooks after some contact from the NBA's all-time leading scorer.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Enrigue’s novel is inspired by the long-running Apache Wars of the 19th century, a series of brutal skirmishes between various Apache bands and the armies of the United States and Mexico.—
Carolina A. Miranda,
The Atlantic,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The research focused on helping Valkyrie adapt to changing conditions, traverse uneven terrain, and quickly connect visual information with physical actions for real-world robotic operations.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Mar. 2026
-
And also for Iran itself, where the regime is apparently still in charge of the armed forces even with the successful actions by the Israelis and the Americans.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Despite long-standing rivalries among senior Iranian politicians — many of whom hold powerful political positions and control significant economic resources — these factions quickly set aside their differences and pledged loyalty to him.—
Pegah Banihashemi,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
-
So many of these issues are driven by issues of governance, economic competition, and various regional rivalries, which sometimes play out through proxy groups.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Implats, which competes with Valterra and Sibanye-Stillwater in the platinum group metals market, has a long-standing presence in Zimbabwe, having steadily built its stake in Zimplats in the early 2000s and become the dominant owner, holding more than 80% of the company.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
-
When Fritz competes on home soil, his tennis often blooms.—
Douglas Robson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Mays faces 11 charges, including pimping, possession of automatic firearms and high-capacity magazines, and possession of methamphetamine and marijuana with intent to sell.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
City officials say the effort is necessary as Davis faces structural financial challenges.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This combats dynamic pricing based on your search history, which could lead to higher fares.—
Christopher Elliott,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The Last Gift Study, launched in 2017, combats that issue by conducting an autopsy immediately after a patient’s death.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
China, top Iran oil buyer, opposes war Smoke rises from Israeli bombardment on the southern Lebanese village of Khiam on March 4, 2026.—
Kevin Breuninger,Sam Meredith,Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Progressive groups are vowing to mount challenges from the left to any lawmaker who opposes the war powers vote, Axios reported.—
Nicholas Wu,
semafor.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Battles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/battles. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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