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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of combats
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
Eight Saints Retinol Facial Moisturizer Cream The Eight Saints Retinol Facial Moisturizer Cream is a fragrance-free, multitasking formula that combats wrinkles, fine lines, and saggy skin.
—Essence Wiley, InStyle, 10 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
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
Housed in a convenient, swipeable stick applicator, the fast-absorbing gel relieves puffiness, combats dryness, and plumps the appearance of fine lines on contact, thus creating a smooth canvas for ensuing concealer.
—Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 14 Mar. 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
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
Eight Saints Retinol Facial Moisturizer Cream The Eight Saints Retinol Facial Moisturizer Cream is a fragrance-free, multitasking formula that combats wrinkles, fine lines, and saggy skin.
—Essence Wiley, InStyle, 10 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
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
Housed in a convenient, swipeable stick applicator, the fast-absorbing gel relieves puffiness, combats dryness, and plumps the appearance of fine lines on contact, thus creating a smooth canvas for ensuing concealer.
—Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 14 Mar. 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 welcome is relaxed and warm while the flamboyant decor fights to charm you.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
An Army official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said soldiers who were fans of UFC fights and who meet Army standards were given a preference, which the official said is standard practice for such events.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
But Spielberg also opposes using AI to replace writers, directors, or producers essential to core artistic decision-making.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
31 May 2026
-
By midday, the Moon opposes unpredictable Uranus in curious Gemini, so big-picture hopes can contrast with fast facts, shifting plans, or surprise updates.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Despite those actions, the Center for Effective Lawmaking, a joint project from Vanderbilt University and the University of Virginia that analyzes items moving through Congress, ranked DeGette as below average in effectiveness in eight of 14 terms analyzed.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
-
As the video drew more attention, protesters gathered at the Shelby Police Department Friday to denounce the officer’s actions and call on the department to take action before he was fired, CNN affiliate WBTV reported.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
Inconspicuous blows against Denver escalated to skirmishes.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
-
Thankfully, none of these skirmishes affects the guests’ satisfaction with the trip.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
Staal’s still elite at winning defensive zone puck battles, which helps tee up Ehlers to play to his strengths and gives the Canes an all-three-zone impact in their minutes that has added up to a 66 percent xG rate.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
-
Calvert shares similar views and has survived an ethics complaint and two previous redistricting battles during his 33 years in Congress.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
The couple are farmers who live a few miles inland but decided the fields were still too wet to work and took a rare day off to visit town.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
31 May 2026
-
Offices are on the second floor, some overlooking the most prominent fields, such as the one the World Cup team trained on.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
Outside the facility’s gates, there have been clashes between federal immigration officials and demonstrators.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
-
Days of protests outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Newark, New Jersey, have led to clashes between demonstrators and officers and a handful of arrests.—
Chris Boyette,
CNN Money,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Despite the ferocious domestic rivalries, the Tartan Army is considered among the world’s friendliest football fans, known for singing and mingling instead of brawling (even if only while their national team is playing).—
Laura Dannen Redman,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 May 2026
-
Student athletes can profit from their name, image, and likeness, but college sports still needs real rules, competitive balance, rivalries, and a true connection to education.—
Trey Wallace OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Combats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combats. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
