Synonyms of combats

combats 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of combat

1

as in fights

to oppose (someone) in physical conflict

a general eager to combat the enemy on his own ground

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fights
• battles
• wars (against)
• clashes (with)
• duels
• beats
• wrestles
• skirmishes (with)
• scrimmages (with)
• hits
• knocks
• strikes
• smacks
• punches
• slaps
• socks
• smites
• slams
• belts
• boxes
• pounds
• swipes
• thumps
• jousts
• slugs
• bashes
• swats
• spars
• pastes
• hammers
• whacks
• grapples
• bangs
• slogs
• whales
• buffets
• batters
• bats
• wallops
• brawls
• bumps
• clobbers
• bludgeons
• thwacks
• collides
• bops
• tussles
• scuffles

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• submits
• gives up
• surrenders

2

as in opposes

to strive to reduce or eliminate

must marshal all of our resources to combat this disease

Synonyms & Similar Words

• opposes
• fights
• counters
• battles
• resists
• contends (with)
• confronts
• withstands
• thwarts
• oppugns
• foils
• frustrates
• faces
• baffles
• checkmates
• defies
• meets

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• promotes
• encourages
• advances
• fosters
• furthers
• cultivates
• nourishes
• suffers
• bears
• endures
• supports
• nurtures
• endorses
• advocates
• abides
• forwards
• backs
• upholds
• champions

combats

2 of 2

noun

plural of combat

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

• actions
• fields
• battles
• fires
• attacks
• hostilities
• firefights
• warfares
• operations
• services
• pitched battles
• duties

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

• fights
• skirmishes
• clashes
• battles
• struggles
• tussles
• scuffles
• brawls
• frays
• conflicts
• dustups
• duels
• contests
• scrimmages
• confrontations
• altercations
• fracases
• scraps
• quarrels
• blows
• scrums
• hassles
• pitched battles
• melees
• disputes
• broils
• affrays
• tangles
• fisticuffs
• fistfights
• jousts
• slugfests
• mix-ups
• battles royal
• squabbles
• wrangles
• grapples
• donnybrooks
• rows
• spats
• punch-ups
• controversies
• punch-outs
• contretemps
• rough-and-tumbles
• ruckuses
• disagreements
• ructions
• misunderstandings
• tiffs
• kickups
• catfights
• cross fires
• fallings-out
• arguments
• handgrips
• free-for-alls
• face-offs
• argle-bargles
• argy-bargies

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• truces

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

• battles
• rivalries
• struggles
• duels
• conflicts
• confrontations
• contentions
• competitions
• wars
• matches
• warfares
• contests
• clashes
• dogfights
• strifes
• ball games
• grapples
• tugs-of-war
• sweepstakes
• face-offs
• showdowns
• disputes
• debates
• horse races
• quarrels
• collisions
• disputations
• frictions
• discords
• arguments
• wrangles
• controversies
• disagreements
• nail-biters
• dissensions
• rows

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• harmonies
• concords
• peaces

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of combats

Verb

The Fed typically combats inflation by raising its benchmark interest rate to slow borrowing and spending and cool the economy. — Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Zuckerberg also published a lengthy manifesto laying out his vision and approach to AI, attempting to assuage wide-ranging concerns about AI as the company combats criticisms about its data center buildout and AI smart glasses. — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026

One of the ways Landers combats this tendency is to be radically transparent. — Mark C. Perna, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Whereas Kiana Murden, Vogue’s beauty shopping editor, says the perfect SPF is one that’s both lightweight and combats oily, prone skin. — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 17 July 2026

The presence of local brick-and-mortar romance bookstores not only combats the stigma but also fosters connection among readers searching for community beyond their screens. — Katelyn Frey, The Conversation, 10 July 2026

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

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