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

This initiative combats chemical-reliant agriculture, emphasizing soil and human health. — Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 20 July 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

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

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