1
as in to fight
to oppose (someone) in physical conflict
a general eager to combat the enemy on his own ground
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to oppose
to strive to reduce or eliminate
must marshal all of our resources to combat this disease
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in field
active fighting during the course of a war
a soldier who served throughout the war without actually seeing combat
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in skirmish
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
the two stags entered a furious combat for dominance of the herd
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in battle
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the fierce ideological combat between the religionists and the secularists
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of combat
David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
When the Federal Reserve started hiking its benchmark rate in early 2022 to combat inflation, credit card rates went up in tandem, and at one point even hit a new record-high.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 6 May 2026
Dan Shanoff, New York Times, 7 May 2026
Inevitably, team evil has cooler powers, like Sindel’s scream and Kung Lao’s hat of doom, but in addition to allotting an inordinate amount of its combat time to Shao Kahn, who’s just a hulking guy with a hammer, the movie’s big visual idea is characters blasting one another with beams.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for combat
Verb
Expanding economic opportunity to combat historic disinvestment and high poverty rates.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
When the Federal Reserve started hiking its benchmark rate in early 2022 to combat inflation, credit card rates went up in tandem, and at one point even hit a new record-high.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 6 May 2026
Noun
Netflix’s live sports portfolio also includes combat sports like boxing and MMA, along with the Women’s World Cup in 2027 and 2031.
—Dan Shanoff, New York Times, 7 May 2026
Inevitably, team evil has cooler powers, like Sindel’s scream and Kung Lao’s hat of doom, but in addition to allotting an inordinate amount of its combat time to Shao Kahn, who’s just a hulking guy with a hammer, the movie’s big visual idea is characters blasting one another with beams.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for combat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combat
Verb
-
In one scene in the novel, a black ram named Othello, who lives in misery in a carnival, forced to fight dogs, is visited in his pen by a strange ram bearing advice.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
Trump has gone back and forth over whether the war will end, at times expressing optimism and at other times saying Russia and Ukraine should be left to fight it out to the bitter end.—
Darlene Superville,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Verb
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That means cutting federal regulations driving up housing costs, lowering the tax burden on working families, opposing any new gas or vehicle mileage taxes and cutting reckless spending that drives inflation.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
The Moon in Capricorn moves through your 10th House of Career, opposing Jupiter in your 4th, highlighting that tension.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
On the other side of the field, former Angel City Becki Tweed, who joined San Diego after the 2024 season, served as the interim coach for the Wave with coach Jonas Eidevall serving a one-game suspension.—
Damian Calhoun,
Daily News,
10 May 2026
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And Joly’s ability to stick in Denver and compete with Engram in camp will ultimately come down to Payton’s trust in Joly as a blocker, as Engram was on the field in a blocking role for just 18% of his snaps in 2025.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
The Pittsburgh Penguins staved off elimination for the second straight game with a clutch Game 5 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night, but celebrations were briefly halted when a skirmish erupted over a controversial hit on Sidney Crosby after the final buzzer.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Walker, in a 10-pitch skirmish, drew a walk.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The project is particularly acrimonious, drawing out geographical battles between north and south and thorny fights between officials who want to build the tunnel and environmentalists and Delta residents seeking to protect the local ecosystem and their way of life.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
Without losing a man or a ship, Dewey’s squadron destroyed the Spanish fleet in the first American naval battle against a foreign power in almost five decades.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
Noun
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In recent years, a litany of violent, seemingly unprovoked attacks across Metro led to the deaths or severe injury of several passengers—a confirmation of Angelenos’ worst fears about the system.—
Oren Peleg,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
According to the Qataris, two Iranian ballistic missiles and three drone attacks led to the injury of three people in the Gulf nation.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
What started as a simple explanation about unplugging on flights quickly turned into a comedic clash of generations when Sherry Cola’s choice of words left Harrison Ford out of the loop.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
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Despite a ceasefire between the pair, there have been clashes this week in the strait, with US forces carrying out air strikes on two empty Iranian oil tankers.—
Ellen Milligan,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
But their rivalry continued as Zayn got back at Williams by dressing up as the gingerbread man and attacking the champion.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
-
While the Irish and Trojans will miss each other on the field, the rivalry has now turned sibling style with the younger Tuihalamaka picking the Trojans.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Combat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combat. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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