as in rivalries
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the playful competition over who would get the new office turned into a real dogfight
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Recent Examples of dogfights
The aim is to produce crews capable of handling complex multi-domain battlespaces rather than isolated dogfights.
—
David Szondy
may 24, New Atlas, 24 May 2026
Williams was given the military’s highest honor for courageously taking on seven Soviet MiG aircraft over Korea in 1952 and knocking four of them out of the sky in what is widely regarded as one of the longest and toughest aerial dogfights in the history of the Navy.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
While very rare, even visual-range dogfights tend to occur over a few miles.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 14 Feb. 2026
Its open world feels alive with bustling cities, dangerous deserts, and space dogfights.
—PC Magazine, 1 Dec. 2025
Two games like this, dogfights to start the year and just closing it on defense, there’s no better feeling.
—Michael Nowels, Mercury News, 15 Sep. 2025
Following that incident, analysts wouldn’t rule out the possibility of Turkish-Israeli mock dogfights, not unlike the recurring Turkish-Greek ones over the Aegean Sea, occurring over Syria, especially if Israel and Turkey’s opposing policies in that country diverge even further.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
On top of dogfights and exploration, there are plenty of puzzles to solve and secrets to uncover.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2025
David Szondy
may 24, New Atlas, 24 May 2026
Williams was given the military’s highest honor for courageously taking on seven Soviet MiG aircraft over Korea in 1952 and knocking four of them out of the sky in what is widely regarded as one of the longest and toughest aerial dogfights in the history of the Navy.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
While very rare, even visual-range dogfights tend to occur over a few miles.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 14 Feb. 2026
Its open world feels alive with bustling cities, dangerous deserts, and space dogfights.
—PC Magazine, 1 Dec. 2025
Two games like this, dogfights to start the year and just closing it on defense, there’s no better feeling.
—Michael Nowels, Mercury News, 15 Sep. 2025
Following that incident, analysts wouldn’t rule out the possibility of Turkish-Israeli mock dogfights, not unlike the recurring Turkish-Greek ones over the Aegean Sea, occurring over Syria, especially if Israel and Turkey’s opposing policies in that country diverge even further.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
On top of dogfights and exploration, there are plenty of puzzles to solve and secrets to uncover.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dogfights
Noun
-
Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova had one of the fiercest rivalries in sports history, and now the pair are opening up about the friendship that followed off the court in a new documentary that revisits their years at the top of women's tennis.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
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Their rivalries have surfaced in the Horn of Africa, Libya, and Yemen, and in media networks, investment strategies, and diplomatic initiatives.—
Judah Taub,
semafor.com,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Situated on Route 33 in Manalapan, this state park has preserved the 18th-century landscape of one of the biggest battles of the Revolutionary War, where the Continental Army ambushed the British army along their route from Philadelphia to New York City.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
-
Both King Charles and the Princess of Wales have been open about their respective cancer battles, using their platforms to drive public awareness.—
Stephanie Bridger-Linning,
Vanity Fair,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
The 21-year-old is combative in duels and boasts plenty of athleticism to cover ground, which could prove crucial in Portugal’s high-risk system.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
-
LaBonta completed 23 of 29 passes from the middle of the park, put in four tackles, made two interceptions and two ball recoveries, and won five of her eight duels with players, all while avoiding committing a single foul.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
The McDowells are far from alone in their struggles to find stable, straightforward child care.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
-
Rather than focusing on recent struggles, Mattingly pointed toward the larger body of work that made Bichette one of the American League's most productive young hitters during his years in Toronto.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
While tensions occasionally flared between supporters and passersby, no major confrontations were reported.—
Stepheny Price , Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
9 June 2026
-
But up until Sunday there were no direct confrontations between Israel and Iran since the ceasefire took hold.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
The 29-year-old was actually born in Colombia and represented the country in youth competitions early in his career.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
-
The Southern Fried Poetry Slam is in Orlando through Sunday, with a full schedule of competitions and community events.—
Matthew J. Palm,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
These conflicts included wars between Russia and Ukraine and between Iran and Israel; and disputes between India and Pakistan.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
9 June 2026
-
Today’s gerrymandering wars are nothing other than an attempt by both parties to predetermine the outcome of elections.—
Frederic J. Fransen,
Boston Herald,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Its Acadian, Creole and maritime narratives reveal how global conflicts and local landscapes shaped the Gulf South.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
-
That new reality is the result of Iran’s relentless efforts to link the fate of both conflicts, and of the increasingly diverging priorities of the US president and the Israeli prime minister.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dogfights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dogfights. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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