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

Known for risque stand-up comedy routines and battles with drugs and alcohol, Brand rose to prominence in the early 2000s, hosting television programs and his own BBC radio show. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026

Use it for dry skin, dry lips, dry cuticles, scars from cabaret battles. — Lindy Segal, Glamour, 22 Oct. 2026

Over cappuccinos in the garden of the Chateau Marmont, Baron Cohen lets loose on the mounting backlash, his battles with studios and the $3 million day that nearly derailed his film. — Lacey Rose, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026

However, the solo show didn’t generate the same amount of interest or viewership, and behind the scenes, legal battles over custody and scrutiny related to child labor raised tensions. — Isabella Albaig, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026

More often than not, the Mountaineers believe their guys can win those 1-on-1 battles in the open field and the Horned Frogs will need to hold their own in space. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Oct. 2026

There, Strickland has evolved into an in-ring savant, with his hard-hitting battles against Will Ospreay and Hangman Adam Page cementing his place in AEW lore. — Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2026

Policy Policy Your guide to the Supreme Court, federal courts, judicial nominations, and the legal battles shaping American policy. — Washington Examiner, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2026

Test your knowledge of brisket battles, Hollywood history and more in this week's American Culture Quiz. — Staff, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Verb

Nicolas Cage battles the sinkhole that threatened his Malibu home. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

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 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