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
Alan Bradley, Space.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Ridgewood, a smaller, scrappy bunch kept battling, taking a 40-39 advantage entering the fourth quarter and pushing it to 49-41.
—Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
For Warsh, the best long-term solution is battling inflation at all costs, as part of the Fed’s mandate.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
Ahmed Barham, a 22-year-old university student, has been battling leukemia.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Shares are battling multiple compression as investors grow less willing to pay a premium for each dollar of earnings.
—Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Consumers have already been battling high inflation coupled with a stagnant labor market, and the BLS’ latest data shows that prices likely aren’t edging down anytime soon.
—Hannah Parker, NBC news, 30 Jan. 2026
Neemias Queta, who is battling an illness, is expected to be available.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 30 Jan. 2026
More than 15,000 energy workers, including Adamov and his colleagues, are now battling to repair the damage across Ukraine.
—Svitlana Vlasova, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
Starlancer was a narrower simulator in the vein of Wing Commander or X-Wing, following a linear narrative about alliances of Earth's nations battling in the void of space.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Ridgewood, a smaller, scrappy bunch kept battling, taking a 40-39 advantage entering the fourth quarter and pushing it to 49-41.
—Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
For Warsh, the best long-term solution is battling inflation at all costs, as part of the Fed’s mandate.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
Ahmed Barham, a 22-year-old university student, has been battling leukemia.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Shares are battling multiple compression as investors grow less willing to pay a premium for each dollar of earnings.
—Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Consumers have already been battling high inflation coupled with a stagnant labor market, and the BLS’ latest data shows that prices likely aren’t edging down anytime soon.
—Hannah Parker, NBC news, 30 Jan. 2026
Neemias Queta, who is battling an illness, is expected to be available.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 30 Jan. 2026
More than 15,000 energy workers, including Adamov and his colleagues, are now battling to repair the damage across Ukraine.
—Svitlana Vlasova, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for battling
Adjective
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But this story isn’t just for pro-fighting fans.—
Victoria Moorwood,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
26 Oct. 2025
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Some had joined Ukrainian combat units as volunteers, while others have sought to assist the Ukrainian people in non-fighting capacities.—
Dan Lamothe,
Washington Post,
4 Feb. 2023
Verb
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Sometimes this takes the form of competing in different heats in the same final where the best run counts, such as with freeski events.—
Michelle Bruton,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Yet there’s also an avalanche of more urgent issues competing for officials’ attention, like federal agents’ killing of a US citizen on Saturday.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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His administration is facing increasing scrutiny after immigration officers killed two American citizens in Minneapolis this month.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Jan. 2026
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Trump did not say when the conversation with Putin took place, but his comment comes as Russia has stepped up attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving large parts of the country facing power shortages and outages.—
Hira Humayun,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Minnesota Department of Corrections launched a website its leaders said was dedicated to combatting Department of Homeland Security misinformation after Pretti was killed.—
Claudia Lauer,
Fortune,
27 Jan. 2026
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The administration has repeatedly downplayed the benefits of immunization, while exaggerating the importance of nutritional supplementation for combatting measles.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The visuals still take some getting used to — the lonely kicker set up 30 yards behind the nearest teammate, the coverage players and opposing blockers standing frozen as the kick sails over their heads.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
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The focus on Pretti’s gun both locally and nationally has drawn blowback from Democrats, gun rights advocates and some conservatives, a constellation of groups often on opposing sides of the gun debate.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Campillo objected to that rationale, contending residents of nearby cities shouldn’t be treated the same as tourists or characterized as rich freeloaders for visiting Balboa Park as non-residents of San Diego.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Jan. 2026
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That’s when Haliburton will be back and the team’s goal will be contending.—
Tony East,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Sandweg also said the Border Patrol has no business operating in a city like Minneapolis because their training is geared more toward encountering drug cartels and migrants along the border.—
Anna Schecter,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
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The book begins with a familiar spark, a rescue, but Wells wanted to push the setting into something stronger and tougher to move through, eventually coming up with another unique sci-fi setting that Murderbot and its friends can navigate while encountering friends, foes and more eye contact.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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According to body camera footage, Grayson and sheriff's Deputy Dawson Farley, who was not charged, searched outside Massey's home before meeting her at her door.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
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Data from private equity analytics firm Preqin shows that the average fund that closed in 2025 spent 23 months in the market fundraising, up from 16 months in 2021, and fewer funds are meeting their fundraising goals at all.—
Hank Tucker,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Battling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/battling. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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