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
CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
Mali, alongside neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso, has long been battling armed groups affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, a fight that has escalated over the past decade.
—ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026
While the parties are busy battling each other through gerrymandering and social media feuds, Americans are losing their patience.
—Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 25 Apr. 2026
Firefighters have been battling more than 150 wildfires in Georgia and Florida that have sent smoky haze into places far from the flames, triggering air quality warnings for some cities.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Two years on and West Ham are battling against relegation to the Championship.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
The play follows a fiercely competitive group of real estate agents battling for survival in a ruthless sales contest.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2026
During construction, Black men shoveled mud through malarial swamps, while battling snakes and alligators in intense heat.
—Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
OpenAI and Anthropic are battling for supremacy in the market for large language models.
—Lola Murti, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
Mali, alongside neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso, has long been battling armed groups affiliated with al Qaeda and the Islamic State group, a fight that has escalated over the past decade.
—CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
Mali, alongside neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso, has long been battling armed groups affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, a fight that has escalated over the past decade.
—ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026
While the parties are busy battling each other through gerrymandering and social media feuds, Americans are losing their patience.
—Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 25 Apr. 2026
Firefighters have been battling more than 150 wildfires in Georgia and Florida that have sent smoky haze into places far from the flames, triggering air quality warnings for some cities.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Two years on and West Ham are battling against relegation to the Championship.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
The play follows a fiercely competitive group of real estate agents battling for survival in a ruthless sales contest.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2026
During construction, Black men shoveled mud through malarial swamps, while battling snakes and alligators in intense heat.
—Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
OpenAI and Anthropic are battling for supremacy in the market for large language models.
—Lola Murti, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for battling
Adjective
-
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
-
But this story isn’t just for pro-fighting fans.—
Victoria Moorwood,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Biles celebrated Owens' birthday from Japan while competing in the Tokyo Olympics, sharing a series of photos to Instagram alongside a sweet caption.—
Diane J. Cho,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Our guys were excited, competing hard.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In conjunction with Central Lakes College and Brainerd Walleye Alliance president Adam Mord, Kempe ran a creel survey on three lakes in the Brainerd area to quantify walleye catch rates by anglers using forward-facing sonar.—
Mike McFeely,
Twin Cities,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The world is facing its biggest energy security threat in history, Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency, warned today.—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Among the most controversial recent amendments to German cultural policy came in 2024, when German parliament approved a declaration aimed at combating antisemitism.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Keerat Sharma, Google's vice president and general manager of ads privacy and safety, said the advancement of generative AI as a part of Google's defense system has led to more powerful results in combatting problematic content.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Using Hart on Johnson allowed the Knicks to put 6-7 forward OG Anunoby — normally their defensive stopper against opposing wings — on 6-10 center Onyeka Okongwu, who thrives in the pick-and-pop game.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Some of the progressives now opposing Iron Dome funding are arguing that Israel does not need the assistance.—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Talma, a 6-foot, 175-pounder has track speed and is part of the Hornets state-championship contending 400-meter relay team.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Fighting between Cambodia and Thailand flared twice last year over contending claims to territory along their shared border.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
For this reason, the probability of encountering a descending elevator first is higher.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The wayward high-schoolers of the HBO series are now young adults, encountering the difficulties that come with entering the real world and trying to establish themselves.—
Molly Lambert,
Vulture,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At a lawn party devoted to the game of cornhole, Clark flirts with Floyd’s wife and the two soon begin an affair, meeting for afternoon assignations at the local Quality Garden Suites.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
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But there was a mountain high enough to keep film Ross from meeting Jackson.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Battling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/battling. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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