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
Marissa Perlman, CBS News, 13 May 2026
Throughout her career, the actor has deliberately chosen powerful, complex roles and founded the Geena Davis Institute to combat unconscious bias and increase representation in entertainment.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
Both Russia and Ukraine have expanded their long-range attacks exponentially over the past year, with the ongoing frontline combat grinding into a near-stalemate with little apparent hope for either side to achieve significant breakthroughs.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for combat
Verb
While most efforts to combat domestic violence focus on victims, survivors and breakdowns in systems meant to protect them, one Cook County program is shifting the work to the abusers and breaking the cycle of violence.
—Marissa Perlman, CBS News, 13 May 2026
Throughout her career, the actor has deliberately chosen powerful, complex roles and founded the Geena Davis Institute to combat unconscious bias and increase representation in entertainment.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Noun
Defense manufacturers across the United States and Europe are racing to develop smaller robotic combat platforms capable of operating in high-risk zones without exposing troops directly to enemy fire.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
Both Russia and Ukraine have expanded their long-range attacks exponentially over the past year, with the ongoing frontline combat grinding into a near-stalemate with little apparent hope for either side to achieve significant breakthroughs.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for combat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combat
Verb
-
The Steelers will likely win around 10 games and once again be fighting into the final weeks of the season for a playoff berth.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
The Warsh view A concern with Miran's approach is that, if the Fed keeps looking through supply shocks, markets and the public will doubt its inflation-fighting credibility.—
Matt Peterson,Steve Liesman,
CNBC,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Extending housing to remote areas requires new roads, water systems, sewers, schools, and fire protection, all of which are costly and often opposed by local governments.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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The wall is opposed by environmental groups, local sheriffs, and a far-right pro-gun YouTuber who is the region’s Republican nominee for Congress.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Alex Smalley leads the field at the 2026 PGA Championship through three rounds of play, with a score of -6.—
Data Skrive,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
Also, without names, the people are on a level playing field with the snowflakes, who are the man’s new friends, and, without names, the doctors can be known solely by their specialties.—
Deborah Treisman,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
The May 9 event was shaken the day before by a political skirmish that, for the first time, spilled into the proceedings.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
10 May 2026
-
Reigns tried to avoid it during their skirmish on Monday.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
Noun
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Decades-long legal battle The Supreme Court decision to overturn Glossip’s conviction and death sentence last year marked a major turning point in his decades-long legal battle.—
Linh Tran,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
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But the frenzied redistricting battle of the past few months — including a congressional map in his home state thrown out by a court after people voted to approve it, and certain elections postponed in Louisiana and Alabama after mail ballots already went out — has done it.—
Miles Parks,
NPR,
14 May 2026
Noun
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As the United States has escalated its attacks on Iran, there’s something pleasingly transgressive about bringing Iranian elements into such overtly Western music—so much so that the songs without Yaghmai’s playing seem a little subdued in comparison.—
Molly Mary O’Brien,
Pitchfork,
15 May 2026
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This one way attack drone is aimed at delivering affordable mass capabilities and is engineered for adaptability, and autonomous operations.—
Aditya Jadhav,
Interesting Engineering,
15 May 2026
Noun
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But Giants-Rams might have the greatest blowout potential of these 17 Monday night clashes.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
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Here are some photos from the second of three skirmishes in this always entertaining Show Me State clash.—
Jeff Rosen,
Kansas City Star,
16 May 2026
Noun
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Militant leaders have usually died as a result of internecine rivalry among competing groups or factions.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 May 2026
-
That’s the foundation of an all-time rivalry.—
Bryan Toporek,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Combat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combat. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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