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
Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2025
But tenants have little legal footing to stand on in combating that destruction.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
Becca Blond, Travel + Leisure, 10 Sep. 2025
As veterans organizations plan events this month to remember the tens of thousands of Americans who died, disappeared or were captured in combat, some remains are still being identified through new scientific advances.
—Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combat
Verb
Histamines are chemicals produced by the immune system to combat allergens.
—Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2025
But tenants have little legal footing to stand on in combating that destruction.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
These Soda combat boots have a similar feel without the weight or price of heavier designer versions.
—Becca Blond, Travel + Leisure, 10 Sep. 2025
As veterans organizations plan events this month to remember the tens of thousands of Americans who died, disappeared or were captured in combat, some remains are still being identified through new scientific advances.
—Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combat
Verb
-
Among other resources, two engines have also been deployed to fight the wildfire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Her grandfather served in World War II and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Of course feel free to cheer whenever your team has done something worth celebrating, but don’t boo the other team or obnoxiously heckle the opposing fans under the tailgate tent whenever their team falls short.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
6 Sep. 2025
-
In another example, Francis came out in support of civil unions for same-sex couples, something previously opposed by the Vatican’s doctrine office.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In California’s strawberry fields, an ICE raid sparked widespread panic and disruption among farmworker communities.—
David Rodriguez Muñoz,
Freep.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Charlotte’s second consecutive 11-play drive halted in the red zone after Harrell led the 49ers down the field with repetitive strikes through the air, finding his favorite target, Javen Nicholas, to set Charlotte up in scoring position.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Still one of the NFL’s nastiest division rivalries, the game was full of skirmishes and a near-costly unnecessary roughness penalty late in the third against the Eagles that put the Cowboys in position to take the lead.—
Dan Gelston,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Ideological skirmishes over the motives and obligations of Carpenter’s music include both sincere interrogation of its feminism and smirking counteractive reprisals to that scrutiny.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
When a person is gravely ill, they’re often forced to fight two battles, one against their sickness and the other against the insurance company.—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Looking back at Charlotte’s recent FCS opponents, dating back to 2021, the 49ers haven’t won the turnover battle in any of the four matchups, resulting in uncomfortably close games and even a lopsided loss to William & Mary in 2022.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Bin Laden, through the al-Qaida terrorist organization, targeted the United States for nearly a decade before the 9/11 attacks in 2001, utilizing this large and expansive infrastructure.—
Richard Frankel,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Polish officials said 19 objects entered its airspace during a large Russian air attack on Ukraine.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Those clashes became viral videos that cemented his reputation as a culture warrior.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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On November 25, the La Liga holders travel to Stamford Bridge for a mouthwatering clash with the reigning Club World Cup kings.—
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The rivalry itself has been tight.—
Sindiswa Mabunda,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Djokovic ultimately emerged as the third man, which enriched the dynamic and added layers, creating three rivalries where previously there had been one.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Combat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combat. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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