as in fighting
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Dissimilar Words
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in combating
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 opposing
to strive to reduce or eliminate
we must battle hunger and poverty wherever they exist
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of battling
Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 23 May 2026
His team’s toughness battling back impressed Poulin the most.
—Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
Rooney, 28, played all 344 minutes and 14 seconds of that five-game series, which included a triple-overtime loss in Game 2, the next two games on back-to-back nights, and the last after being postponed a day because multiple Victoire players were battling illness.
—Theodore Tollefson, Twin Cities, 23 May 2026
Most of the rest of the final round of Serie A takes place on Sunday night, with four teams battling for the final two Champions League places and two teams fighting against relegation.
—ABC News, 23 May 2026
Still, McCullough pointed toward Alcantara battling through six innings despite the difficult start.
—Miami Herald, 22 May 2026
Crews are already battling several significant wildfires in Southern California as Cal Fire officials warn that rapidly drying vegetation and a record-low Sierra Nevada snowpack could accelerate north state wildfires in the months ahead.
—Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026
Scott Olson | Getty Images States and the federal government may be battling over who has the power to regulate prediction markets, but the companies building them are chugging along as the platforms continue to experience huge growth.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 22 May 2026
Busch had been battling lingering respiratory issues over the past few weeks.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026
Verb
Upon arrival, crews immediately began cutting holes in the roof for ventilation and took an offensive approach to battling the flames.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 23 May 2026
His team’s toughness battling back impressed Poulin the most.
—Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
Rooney, 28, played all 344 minutes and 14 seconds of that five-game series, which included a triple-overtime loss in Game 2, the next two games on back-to-back nights, and the last after being postponed a day because multiple Victoire players were battling illness.
—Theodore Tollefson, Twin Cities, 23 May 2026
Most of the rest of the final round of Serie A takes place on Sunday night, with four teams battling for the final two Champions League places and two teams fighting against relegation.
—ABC News, 23 May 2026
Still, McCullough pointed toward Alcantara battling through six innings despite the difficult start.
—Miami Herald, 22 May 2026
Crews are already battling several significant wildfires in Southern California as Cal Fire officials warn that rapidly drying vegetation and a record-low Sierra Nevada snowpack could accelerate north state wildfires in the months ahead.
—Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026
Scott Olson | Getty Images States and the federal government may be battling over who has the power to regulate prediction markets, but the companies building them are chugging along as the platforms continue to experience huge growth.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 22 May 2026
Busch had been battling lingering respiratory issues over the past few weeks.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for battling
Adjective
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Speaking ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Johnson told the BBC that the troops should be sent to peaceful regions in non-fighting roles.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Feb. 2026
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But this story isn’t just for pro-fighting fans.—
Victoria Moorwood,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Briton’s triumph is not the only example of how experience can be advantageous in equestrian, a sport where athletes are still competing into their 70s for the biggest prizes.—
Danielle Rossingh,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
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Success increasingly depends on helping sellers connect solutions to measurable business outcomes rather than competing in a race to the bottom.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Verb
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Brown is still building up his pitch count with his transition from the bullpen to the rotation, requiring high efficiency facing Major League Baseball’s best offense to give them that many outs.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
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Kubiak has experience going against the group in practices last season, but facing his former boss in Mike MacDonald will be a tall task.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Booker, who is seen as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, made an explicit appeal to MAHA during a speech focused on combating the unhealthiness of the American food diet at the Center for American Progress’s Ideas Conference on Tuesday.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
19 May 2026
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China denies the allegations, describing the facilities as vocational training centers aimed at combating extremism and terrorism.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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As a maker, these opposing qualities are persistent and present throughout every part of the process.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
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The Broncos literally presented the NFL’s toughest assignment for opposing quarterbacks.—
Sam McDowell
Updated May 19,
Kansas City Star,
19 May 2026
Verb
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For instance, Loevy represented two people arrested in 2005 and subjected to strip searches at the Cook County Jail, contending that the strip-search procedures violated their constitutional rights.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
22 May 2026
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Another candidate was an outspoken opponent, contending that the project was a sop to developers.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Verb
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In the very rare instances of direct danger, like encountering a particularly nasty beast with huge scythe claws, getting hit only leads to the screen fading out and Yoshi reappearing at the start of the stage.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
19 May 2026
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Investigators also believe Brown assaulted a postal worker with a rock on Plasters Avenue before encountering Paige.—
CBS News Atlanta Staff,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Your connections are under a microscope, but clarity arrives around who’s meeting you halfway and who’s just enjoying access to you.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
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The interest rate climate is high and static right now, with another Federal Reserve meeting not even scheduled again until June.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Battling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/battling. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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