Synonyms of battling

battling 1 of 2

adjective

as in fighting

Related Words

• fighting
• warring
• cross
• savage
• testy
• vicious
• irritable
• ugly
• ornery
• fretful
• disagreeable
• hostile
• fractious
• peevish
• dyspeptic
• bilious
• petulant
• irascible
• querulous
• acidic
• surly
• grumpy
• waspish
• bristly
• grouchy
• antagonistic
• touchy
• snappish
• crabby
• choleric
• bearish
• cranky
• pettish
• stroppy
• prickly
• huffy
• combative
• ill-tempered
• belligerent
• aggressive
• fierce
• feisty
• warlike
• militant
• confrontational
• assaultive
• ill-natured
• ill-humored
• pugnacious
• gladiatorial
• scrappy
• quarrelsome
• bellicose
• contentious
• rude
• agonistic
• snappy
• hot-tempered
• argumentative
• chippy
• discordant
• truculent
• disputatious
• brawly

Dissimilar Words

• peaceful
• pacific
• peaceable
• nonaggressive
• pleasant
• benevolent
• uncombative
• friendly
• calm
• unwarlike
• conciliatory
• nonbelligerent
• amiable
• good-natured
• quiet
• gracious
• genial
• unbelligerent
• ingratiating
• obliging
• cordial
• mild
• sociable
• amicable
• easygoing
• complaisant
• affable
• uncontentious
• kindhearted
• benign
• serene
• gentle
• tranquil
• relaxed
• antimilitarist
• kindly
• anti-imperialist
• good-tempered

battling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of battle

1

as in competing

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

• competing
• fighting
• contending
• racing
• vying
• rivaling
• playing
• facing off
• challenging
• maneuvering
• engaging
• jockeying
• jostling
• working
• trying out
• going out
• training

2

as in facing

to enter into contest or conflict with

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• facing
• encountering
• meeting
• fighting
• engaging
• taking on
• opposing
• contending
• emulating
• rivaling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• escaping
• evading
• retreating
• eluding

3

as in combating

to oppose (someone) in physical conflict

the two armies battled each other for control of the bridge

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fighting
• combating
• beating
• dueling
• clashing (with)
• skirmishing (with)
• warring (against)
• hitting
• wrestling
• punching
• knocking
• slapping
• scrimmaging (with)
• slugging
• striking
• smacking
• pounding
• jousting
• battering
• banging
• whacking
• hammering
• thumping
• slamming
• boxing
• smiting
• bashing
• buffeting
• slogging
• swatting
• sparring
• swiping
• brawling
• grappling
• bumping
• tussling
• pasting
• bludgeoning
• batting
• belting
• bopping
• clobbering
• scuffling
• whaling
• colliding
• socking
• thwacking
• walloping

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• submitting
• giving up
• surrendering

4

as in opposing

to strive to reduce or eliminate

we must battle hunger and poverty wherever they exist

Synonyms & Similar Words

• opposing
• fighting
• combating
• countering
• resisting
• confronting
• contending (with)
• withstanding
• thwarting
• oppugning
• facing
• frustrating
• foiling
• baffling
• checkmating
• defying
• meeting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• promoting
• advancing
• encouraging
• cultivating
• fostering
• suffering
• furthering
• forwarding
• enduring
• bearing
• supporting
• nurturing
• advocating
• abiding
• upholding
• nourishing
• backing
• endorsing
• championing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of battling

Verb

While this will be the first time Yamal and Mbappé are battling at the World Cup, the two have played against each other before. — Juliana Kim, NPR, 14 July 2026

The 24-year-old, like many of his summer league teammates, is battling for his NBA dreams. — Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026

Firefighters battling the Elephant Fire in Sierra, Lassen and Plumas counties faced difficult terrain and shifting winds as crews worked to slow a blaze that had burned more than 6,400 acres and was 5% contained. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 13 July 2026

Congo has been battling since May a new wave of the virus, named by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention last week as the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever recorded on the continent. — ABC News, 13 July 2026

Relievers Ryan Rolison, Trent Thornton and Jacob Webb have all stepped up in difficult circumstances with Daniel Palencia and Hoby Milner out and Phil Maton struggling while battling knee issues. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2026

On Tuesday, a police helicopter was hit by a drone while battling a brush fire near the Encino Reservoir in Los Angeles. — Sydney Brammer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2026

Ronaldo’s elbow looked far more intentional, and egregious, than Balogun’s play that happened in the context of a player battling for a ball against an opponent with his foot. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026

These clinical trials could provide a glimpse of hope for the citizens of the DRC that are battling one of the most serious Ebola outbreaks on record. — Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026