combat 1 of 2

verb

kəm-ˈbat How to pronounce combat (audio)
Definition of combatnext
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

combat

2 of 2

noun

ˈkäm-ˌbat How to pronounce combat (audio)
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb combat differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of combat are oppose, resist, and withstand. While all these words mean "to set oneself against someone or something," combat stresses the forceful or urgent countering of something.

combat disease

Where would oppose be a reasonable alternative to combat?

In some situations, the words oppose and combat are roughly equivalent. However, oppose can apply to any conflict, from mere objection to bitter hostility or warfare.

opposed the plan

When can resist be used instead of combat?

The words resist and combat can be used in similar contexts, but resist implies an overt recognition of a hostile or threatening force and a positive effort to counteract or repel it.

resisting temptation

In what contexts can withstand take the place of combat?

The words withstand and combat are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, withstand suggests a more passive resistance.

trying to withstand peer pressure

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
Verb
Unions can also be powerful tools for combating racial pay discrimination; the new report shows tripling union membership would narrow the racial wage gap by more than a third. — Liz Shuler, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 Most electric cars combat this by laying a flat cooling plate underneath the battery. — New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
Noun
In August, acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said the Lincoln maintained adequate food supplies, but because combat operations limited resupply opportunities, meal options were reduced for a short time. — Julie Watson, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth flew aboard the Lincoln Wednesday to award the carrier strike group the Presidential Unit Citation, the military’s highest honor for a unit’s valor in combat. — Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for combat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combat
  1. fight
  2. oppose
  3. field
  4. skirmish
  5. battle
  6. attack
  7. clash
  8. rivalry
Verb
  • The rebels urged their forces to continue fighting and called on Tigrayans to support them.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
  • North Korean engineers have learned from time spent working in Russia’s massive Yelabuga drone factory, and North Korean forces fighting alongside Russia have gained firsthand experience in integrating drones into modern combat.
    — Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of fight
Verb
  • Before the hearing began, several dozen people rallied outside the courthouse to oppose the continuing presence of the military in the city.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Many of those executed were arrested in Derna and Benghazi cities during or after conflicts between the LNA and opposing armed groups between 2014 and 2018, according to the Wednesday report.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of oppose
Noun
  • These industry changes come at an uncertain time as artificial intelligence encroaches on the creative field and consumers are turning to social media platforms for music consumption and discovery.
    — Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Just a week after earning C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week honors by converting all five field-goal attempts, kicker Robert Czeremcha missed twice, including a potential game-tying kick at the end of regulation.
    — Alejandro Hernandez, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of field
Noun
  • This leads to even more behind-the-scenes skirmishes laced with character-centric comedy, as opposing factions align.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Ties between the two countries remain strained over their long-running Himalayan border dispute, which erupted into a deadly skirmishes in 2020 that saw soldiers from both sides use rocks and iron rods in brutal hand-to-hand combat.
    — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of skirmish
Noun
  • In yet another battle between the states and social media platforms, Florida asked a state judge to order changes on Instagram and Facebook in an effort to protect young users.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
  • At the same time, Hollister was also engaged in a lengthy courtroom battle with Perry and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles over the rights to another property, a Los Feliz convent the singer hoped to turn into a private home.
    — Mickey Rapkin, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of battle
Noun
  • The claim that Ukraine has halted its strikes on energy sites could not be independently verified, but neither Russian officials nor media have reported Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries since the energy truce was announced.
    — HANNA ARHIROVA, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Before the current attacks, the airport handled roughly 110,000 passengers a day — similar in scale to Miami International airport.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of attack
Noun
  • The social media clash also comes as El-Sayed faces criticism over his responses to questions about Iran’s regime and Islamist organizations.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
  • In a clash of the top two teams in FIFA’s rankings, played before a sellout crowd of 19,220, the visitors left the home side shell-shocked with two spectacular strikes.
    — Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of clash
Noun
  • The alleged rivalry between Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle was seemingly dying down—but then Meghan and Prince Harry moved back to the UK.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The group will confront old tensions and determine if these chapters can finally be closed, or if some rivalries are simply too deep to leave in the past.
    — Peter White, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of rivalry

Browse Nearby Words

comb
combat
combatant
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Cite this Entry

“Combat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combat. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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