1
as in fights
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 opposes
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 actions
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 skirmishes
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 battles
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 combats
Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 16 June 2026
Saturday’s blaze comes as the city combats a massive increase in fatal fires this year.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 23 May 2026
Avoiding posts on social media is the way DePaul student Loughman combats her health anxiety.
—Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026
Regular physical activity helps reduce blood pressure, eases arthritic pain, combats chronic illness and lifts your mood.
—Helen Dennis, Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026
Aeration helps oxygen reach roots and combats the effects of compacting, but making sure your lawn continues to breathe is key to keeping it consistently green.
—Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 17 Apr. 2026
The best weed-and-feed product combats the weed population in your lawn and meets the fertilizer needs of your turf.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Apr. 2026
Mix cinnamon with warm water to create a spray that combats fungal issues and discourages pests from returning.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 15 Mar. 2026
This combats dynamic pricing based on your search history, which could lead to higher fares.
—Christopher Elliott, Dallas Morning News, 28 Jan. 2026
Ruby McAuliffe, InStyle, 4 June 2026
His ability to reset and stay attached combats longer, more powerful opponents.
—Daniel Popper, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Bodies in motion are intercut with a bespoke gun factory’s grinding gears; human combats are juxtaposed with VR imagery or first-person shooter games.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026
This proactive boundary setting manages stakeholder expectations, combats scope creep and forces ruthless focus on the absolute core, driving true agility over bloat.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
LilyAna’s version is also packed with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E for deep penetrating hydration that combats any of the infamous drying side effects associated with the ingredient.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 16 June 2026
Saturday’s blaze comes as the city combats a massive increase in fatal fires this year.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 23 May 2026
Avoiding posts on social media is the way DePaul student Loughman combats her health anxiety.
—Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026
Regular physical activity helps reduce blood pressure, eases arthritic pain, combats chronic illness and lifts your mood.
—Helen Dennis, Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026
Aeration helps oxygen reach roots and combats the effects of compacting, but making sure your lawn continues to breathe is key to keeping it consistently green.
—Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 17 Apr. 2026
The best weed-and-feed product combats the weed population in your lawn and meets the fertilizer needs of your turf.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Apr. 2026
Mix cinnamon with warm water to create a spray that combats fungal issues and discourages pests from returning.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 15 Mar. 2026
This combats dynamic pricing based on your search history, which could lead to higher fares.
—Christopher Elliott, Dallas Morning News, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
Sunday Riley Good Genes All-in-One Lactic Acid Treatment My medium skin tone is prone to dark spots, but the Sunday Riley Good Genes elixir combats scaring.
—Ruby McAuliffe, InStyle, 4 June 2026
His ability to reset and stay attached combats longer, more powerful opponents.
—Daniel Popper, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Bodies in motion are intercut with a bespoke gun factory’s grinding gears; human combats are juxtaposed with VR imagery or first-person shooter games.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026
This proactive boundary setting manages stakeholder expectations, combats scope creep and forces ruthless focus on the absolute core, driving true agility over bloat.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combats
Verb
-
The East Wing’s demolition and 999-seat ballroom — now projected at $600 million — are fueling legal, ethical and security fights over who pays and what protections are truly needed.—
Lisa Mascaro,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
Rizos Curls’ 6-in-1 Styling Cream is a lightweight multitasker that defines curls, fights frizz, provides flexible hold, and offers heat protection.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
If Dumerlus is sentenced to the maximum penalty (Trump would surely prefer the death penalty, but Canada opposes it), the country with the maple leaf will be viewed favorably by the president.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
20 June 2026
-
PayPal and Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel has contributed $3 million to the California Business Roundtable, which opposes the tax.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Administration statements might pledge to protect Americans from toxic pollution, the scientists say, but many of its actions run counter to those words.—
Michael Hawthorne,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
-
This revelation sparks questions about a potential double standard by MLB, suggesting a stricter enforcement of uniform policies now that the issue has garnered national attention, compared to Kershaw's similar past actions.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Noun
-
While the war ended years before, the hostility spread from the stands — with skirmishes among supporters — into the field, when Maradona tricked the referee and the world with the World Cup’s most infamous goal, punching the ball into the net with his fist above England’s goalie Peter Shilton.—
Gabriel Sama,
Mercury News,
21 June 2026
-
Continue reading … — Two arrested as skirmishes erupt outside courthouse after Karmelo Anthony verdict.—
,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Informal Beyblade battles are popping up in strangest of places, with players huddling in parks, gyms and shopping malls.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
-
Unlike in Jalisco or Michoacán, spectacular gun battles are hardly ever seen in Colima.—
Daniel Hernandez,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2026
Noun
-
The ceremony took place near the town of La Hormiga which is surrounded by vast fields of coca bushes, the raw material for cocaine that the Border Commandos export.—
John Otis,
NPR,
21 June 2026
-
Students who entered college eager to study literature or history sometimes abandoned those fields because classrooms became places of discomfort rather than intellectual growth.—
Marybeth Gasman,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Noun
-
Social interactions may stir up complicated feelings when the Libra moon clashes with Mercury.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
-
Enter Maddie’s Secret, Early’s directorial debut, which follows a chef at GourMaybe Test Kitchen whose rising place in the food-influencer world clashes with her lifelong struggle with bulimia.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
20 June 2026
Noun
-
From legendary investors to rising disruptors, host Maneet Ahuja unpacks the convictions, rivalries and bold ideas driving today’s markets and tomorrow’s economy.—
Maneet Ahuja,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
While the two keep drinking and wait for a rare lunar event, old grievances, outrageous escapades, and macho rivalries explode to the surface.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Combats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combats. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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