as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the playful competition over who would get the new office turned into a real dogfight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 dogfight
What follows is something resembling a helicopter dogfight in which multiple Army choppers chase Tommy and company through the LA sky.
—
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
Making the Signal chat a political dogfight is preventing White House officials from getting on top of the more pressing issue of how to use more secure communications, according to one cyber security expert.
—Christopher White, Baltimore Sun, 28 Mar. 2025
And in an aerial dogfight, the Hurricane could maneuver toe-to-toe with the German’s Messerschimidt Bf 109.
—Kiona N. Smith, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
In simulations detailed in the December 2024 Journal of Gun Launch & Control, this Chinese AI squared off against the complex aerial acrobatics of an F-15, a jet which, for decades, has reflected American air dominance, particularly in dogfights.
—Amir Husain, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dogfight
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
Making the Signal chat a political dogfight is preventing White House officials from getting on top of the more pressing issue of how to use more secure communications, according to one cyber security expert.
—Christopher White, Baltimore Sun, 28 Mar. 2025
And in an aerial dogfight, the Hurricane could maneuver toe-to-toe with the German’s Messerschimidt Bf 109.
—Kiona N. Smith, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
In simulations detailed in the December 2024 Journal of Gun Launch & Control, this Chinese AI squared off against the complex aerial acrobatics of an F-15, a jet which, for decades, has reflected American air dominance, particularly in dogfights.
—Amir Husain, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dogfight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dogfight
Noun
-
She is locked in a bitter rivalry with the Bears, whose growing presence and destructive ways threaten the land she is sworn to protect, by any means necessary.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
8 May 2025
-
While their rivalry has had plenty of back-and-forth, this match may be the easiest to predict.—
Jeremy Hanna,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 May 2025
Noun
-
As soon as hot weather sets in, chickweed begins to slow its growth, often dying out by midsummer, but don’t think the battle is won.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 May 2025
-
As the battle for Champions League football hots up, Nottingham Forest have a must-win game against their local rivals Leicester City, having taken just seven points from their last six Premier League games.—
Holly Shand,
New York Times,
8 May 2025
Noun
-
The first challenger, selected at random, must choose one of his or her neighboring opponents to go head-to-head in an epic quiz duel in the opponent’s category.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
10 May 2025
-
In each episode, the first challenger, selected at random, must choose one of his or her neighboring opponents to go head-to-head in an epic quiz duel in the opponent’s category.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
10 May 2025
Noun
-
Stellantis’s European operation is a weak-looking target for new Chinese competition.—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
-
Forest, who won the European Cup in 1979 and 1980 under Brian Clough, last featured in Europe’s premier competition in 1980-81.—
Tom Burrows,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
Noun
-
Both sides have ramped up cross-border drone warfare, often going deeper into each country's territory.—
Stephen J. Beard,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
-
With missiles tracking targets from miles away, nations are pouring resources into stealth, advanced avionics, and electronic warfare—reshaping doctrines for a battlefield no longer visible to the naked eye.—
Amira El-Fekki,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
Noun
-
Denver won Game 3 because Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray each scored at least 20 points, which went a long way toward subduing the struggles of Jokić.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
12 May 2025
-
The independent federal agency has been facing financial struggles in recent years, having implemented a 10-year plan to stabilize in 2021.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 May 2025
Noun
-
The trade war ramped up at the beginning of April, so price hikes have not yet affected the cost of living, with inflation easing last month.—
Alina Selyukh,
NPR,
15 May 2025
-
Fearing President Donald Trump’s chaotic trade war would ignite a global recession, investors scrambled to dump US assets.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
15 May 2025
Noun
-
Putin sent thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, triggering the gravest confrontation between Russia and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
12 May 2025
-
While Ratcliffe seems to thrive in conflict, the Glazers do not like confrontation.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
12 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dogfight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dogfight. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share