DOGFIGHTS Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

dogfights

noun

plural of dogfight

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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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 dogfights While the film itself has remained a classic for its aerial dogfights and high-octane drama, one enduring legacy of the franchise, subtler in its approach but no less impactful, can be found in its wardrobe. — Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Its open world feels alive with bustling cities, dangerous deserts, and space dogfights. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 26 June 2026 There’s also a four-player battle mode where players can team up as Star Fox or the evil Star Wolf team and engage in massive dogfights through space. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 25 June 2026 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 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 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

College football is almost here, bringing back decades-long rivalries, close games and, of course, die-hard fan bases.

— Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Week 1 is full of national showdowns and nonregion rivalries.

— Jack Leo, AJC.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of rivalries

Noun

The policy updates come amid the slew of ongoing legal battles by players who were originally part of the 2022 high school recruiting class seeking a fifth year of collegiate eligibility.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
Then came battles with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service.

— Sam Gringlas, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of battles

Noun

McBurnie is something of a throwback; a physical target man who relishes gritty duels and aerial battles.

— Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Cherry went 74 minutes in Sunday’s loss to Racing Louisville, recording four defensive clearances and winning three of her four aerial duels as Angel City lost for the first time in four games.

— Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 31 July 2026

Definition of duels

Noun

Birth of daughter and personal struggles Meanwhile, following a lull in her career in the late 1990s, Smith returned to the spotlight in 2000.

— Imani Sumbi, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026
In reality, Loesby contends, many struggles reflect predictable structural mismatches — a lawyer who prefers depth and analysis struggling in a role that rewards constant responsiveness, or one who thrives on collaboration disengaging in isolation.

— Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of struggles

Noun

Indonesia has pledged to keep subsidized fuel prices unchanged through 2026, which may strain the budget if oil prices rise again due to supply disruptions or a worsening of military confrontations.

— Celestine Iyer, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
Critical milestones in this transitional phase of the movement were the deadly confrontations between white Christian extremists and federal agents at Ruby Ridge, Idaho (1992), and Waco, Texas (1993).

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of confrontations

Noun

Now, parents are scrambling to find alternatives while wondering whether their children will be able to train in time for upcoming competitions.

— Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026
The Dutch health ministry’s scheme for international top-sport events funds one-off competitions rather than recurring ones annually, and caps awards at €3 million.

— Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of competitions

Noun

Netanyahu and Erdogan have a long-running public feud, which intensified dramatically during the wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.

— Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
This came out in 2012, in that awkward growing-pains stage between the early post-teenybopper rebellion of Can’t Be Tamed and the suffocating culture wars of Bangerz.

— Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of wars

Noun

The players air their grievances, which are essentially a pile of petty conflicts and resentments that, as Alice warned, can be traced back to the team fracturing into cliques.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
Mia Wasikowska perfectly embodies the role of Agata, a writer returning to her home continent, seeking to understand and reconnect with the wounds of the recent past, and with the ways in which unresolved conflicts continue to echo in the present.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of conflicts

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“Dogfights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dogfights. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of dogfights

noun

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