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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of combat
Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2025
Perez said community members and law enforcement need to work together in order to combat violent crime.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2025
Sarah Botstein, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
The 36-year-old combat veteran served two tours in Afghanistan as a Marine, and now works in New Mexico as a lineman, responding to emergencies and natural disasters.
—Sarah Dahlberg, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combat
Verb
To combat this, reach for this set that features a zip-up front.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2025
Perez said community members and law enforcement need to work together in order to combat violent crime.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
From 1775 to 1783, far more people succumbed to disease than died in combat.
—Sarah Botstein, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
The 36-year-old combat veteran served two tours in Afghanistan as a Marine, and now works in New Mexico as a lineman, responding to emergencies and natural disasters.
—Sarah Dahlberg, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combat
Verb
-
Davis was a civil rights lawyer who fought to desegregate public schools in Texas.—
Ciara McCarthy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Among other resources, four engines have also been deployed to fight the wildfire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Neighbors for a Better San Diego, a group that represents mostly single-family homeowners and opposes nearby higher-density development, criticized the report for not tracking how many homes get demolished to make way for new projects.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The government reopened after legislation was passed that didn’t include funding for the aircraft carrier, or for water projects that Carter opposed on similar grounds.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Petrino has coached Western Kentucky, Louisville and Missouri State since he was fired by the Razorbacks for off-field reasons in the spring of 2012.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Oct. 2025
-
The Browns might even have a plan to get Sanders on the field at some point this season.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The skirmish over the controller erupted as the Council and Nygren's office continued to disagree over how tribal funds were allocated within the government.—
Arlyssa D. Becenti,
AZCentral.com,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Just when things appeared to cool down and players were separated, another skirmish occurred near the bleachers.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The battle of the rotations Pretty much every night, their starting pitcher was better than your starting pitcher.—
Jayson Stark,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
That includes research presentations on hip-hop, identity and activism, interactive workshops in education and creative practice, and a freestyle dance battle.—
Liz Rothaus Bertrand,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Advertisement An investigation led by the Guardian found in September that out of the 6,000 Palestinians from Gaza held by Israel since the Hamas terror attack two years ago, only one quarter were held on suspicion of militant links.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
-
This was the worst one-day attack on Israel since the country's founding in 1948.—
Greg Myre,
NPR,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
City sued after mayor blames Christians for violent clash with left-wing agitators.—
,
FOXNews.com,
9 Oct. 2025
-
The clash among the neighborhoods mirrored his internal strife over his biracial identity.—
Jazmine Hughes,
Robb Report,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
There is also a danger that anger with Hamas and rivalries within the Palestinian community in Gaza could now explode, analysts say.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The men’s opposing theories, murder versus suicide, became entangled in a rivalry over who had known and understood him best.—
Eren Orbey,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Combat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combat. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share