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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in fighting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of battling
Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Taylor Swift is keeping her giving streak going by donating a life-changing chunk of change to Lilah, a 2-year-old Swiftie who’s battling brain cancer.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2025
However, other reports from Showbiz 411 and NewsNation, indicate Keaton was battling dementia in her later years.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 22 Oct. 2025
The Spurs and Mavericks will likely be battling it out in the Western Conference for a long time with these two as the faces of their teams.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
For the next few days, the hurricane center said Melissa will be steaming in hotter-than-usual waters in the Caribbean, fueling the storm’s growth, but also battling a significant amount of storm-toppling wind shear.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
The tournament will see the likes of holders Argentina, Brazil, England and others from Europe battling it out to be crowned the 23rd winner of a World Cup.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
Grayson, who is battling stage-three colon cancer, faces 45 years to life if convicted.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
Heading into the United States Grand Prix in Austin, McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are battling it out for the top spot, with just 22 points separating the two as Piastri holds on to first.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Instead of a tie game, the Leafs were battling for a loose puck.
—Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Taylor Swift is keeping her giving streak going by donating a life-changing chunk of change to Lilah, a 2-year-old Swiftie who’s battling brain cancer.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2025
However, other reports from Showbiz 411 and NewsNation, indicate Keaton was battling dementia in her later years.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 22 Oct. 2025
The Spurs and Mavericks will likely be battling it out in the Western Conference for a long time with these two as the faces of their teams.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
For the next few days, the hurricane center said Melissa will be steaming in hotter-than-usual waters in the Caribbean, fueling the storm’s growth, but also battling a significant amount of storm-toppling wind shear.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
The tournament will see the likes of holders Argentina, Brazil, England and others from Europe battling it out to be crowned the 23rd winner of a World Cup.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
Grayson, who is battling stage-three colon cancer, faces 45 years to life if convicted.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
Heading into the United States Grand Prix in Austin, McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are battling it out for the top spot, with just 22 points separating the two as Piastri holds on to first.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for battling
Verb
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Post-pandemic demand and chronic underbuilding in the area have left buyers competing fiercely, often bidding tens of thousands above asking.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
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The candidates are competing to replace Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, who is reaching the end of his term limit.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Snell was facing a rookie making his seventh big-league start.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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Now, nearly three years later, could Meta be facing its own ChatGPT moment?—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That’s after the consumer price index for September inched up but came in below forecasts, clearing the way for the Fed to focus more on the maximum-employment side of its mandate than the inflation-fighting side.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
26 Oct. 2025
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In reality, while the ceasefire has paused fighting and allowed limited humanitarian access, the deal leaves major issues unresolved — including Hamas’ future role, the disarmament question, and the political control of Gaza.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But some property owners have signed a petition opposing the initiative, which could keep it from going to the Common Council for consideration.—
Bridget Fogarty,
jsonline.com,
23 Oct. 2025
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Conservative activist Riley Gaines, known for her advocacy opposing transgender individuals in women’s sports, has been appointed to the Sumner County Library Board.—
Diana Leyva,
Nashville Tennessean,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Baltimore won a playoff game last season and entered 2025 with expectations of contending for a Super Bowl title.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Colombia disputes this, contending that Santa Rosa did not exist when the treaty was signed and therefore cannot be claimed under its terms.—
Isa Cardona,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Looking at changing Sundance’s world, the move to Boulder in 2027 – what are some of the challenges you guys are already encountering?—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
21 Oct. 2025
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Now that Joanne doesn’t need to learn Judaism 101, the narrative is more about the trickiness of relationships in their various stages than a non-Jewish person encountering the religion for the first time.—
Esther Zuckerman,
Time,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While House Republicans can pass legislation with a simple majority vote, Senate Republicans cannot advance most matters without meeting a 60-vote threshold.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Oct. 2025
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However, before Eleven Labs even had a concrete product, Reina, who was working at Palantir Technologies at the time, decided to take a chance on the firm after meeting Staniszewski.—
Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Petro has repeatedly defended his policy, which moves away from a repressive approach and prioritizes reaching agreements with growers of coca leaf - the raw material for cocaine - to encourage them to switch to other crops, pursuing major drug lords and combating money laundering.—
NPR,
NPR,
24 Oct. 2025
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The president has made combating the nation’s drug crisis a central policy focus.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Battling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/battling. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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