as in battling
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Dissimilar Words
as in combat
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in combating
to oppose (someone) in physical conflict
a proud people who have fiercely fought all invaders of their homeland
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in opposing
to strive to reduce or eliminate
a civil rights leader who dedicated his life to fighting prejudice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in competing
to engage in a contest
everyone on that street seems to be fighting to see who can create the gaudiest holiday lighting display
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in bickering
to express different opinions about something often angrily
if you kids continue to fight, I'm turning this car around and we're heading back home!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in resisting
to refuse to give in to
I tried to fight the temptation to eat another cookie—and lost
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fighting
Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Oct. 2025
Some had joined Ukrainian combat units as volunteers, while others have sought to assist the Ukrainian people in non-fighting capacities.
—Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2023
But the computer model couldn’t distinguish fighting roosters from non-fighting roosters.
—Jeff Horwitz, WSJ, 17 Oct. 2021
CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
Exchange of accusations Syria’s Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa told state TV that Kurdish fighters used civilian buildings including hospitals and clinics during the fighting.
—Ghaith Alsayed, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Chisholm Trail girls basketball head coach David Norris has spent his 35-year career fighting for others on the basketball court.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Jan. 2026
In the meantime, however, the tireless work of humanitarians continues on the ground, with no end to the fighting in sight.
—Byguy Davies, ABC News, 9 Jan. 2026
Sudan’s civil war has marked 1000 days of fighting since the conflict erupted in April 2023.
—Preeti Jha, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Among those killed was a former Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) community health worker who was unable to get medical attention after a building used by the aid group became a battleground during the intense fighting on Tuesday.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
After years of fighting for its survival in the face of hacks and growing regulatory hostility, crypto’s fortunes abruptly change.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
The ongoing breakout in fighting is the most severe yet, and has exposed Washington as unable to fully contain the situation.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 8 Jan. 2026
Chris Waugh, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Candid figure on war, civil rights and religion Beyond the boxing ring, Ali was outspoken about his beliefs when many Black Americans were still fighting to be heard.
—Dallas Morning News, 12 Jan. 2026
And then fighting a good fight against the Thunder before being undone by an 18-2 Oklahoma City run in the third period.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2026
As Florida’s second consecutive Group of 5 hire, Sumrall is fighting an image battle with the Gator fan base, for whom the failures of Billy Napier have left a lingering sting.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
The administration has joined the Magnificent Seven tech companies, which wield greater power than most nation-states, in fighting regulatory control of artificial intelligence.
—Max Hastings, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
On the DeFi front, crypto advocates are fighting to ensure developers do not face prosecution when their technology is used for illicit activities like money laundering.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 11 Jan. 2026
In response, the White House is planning to adjust its messaging strategy to focus on affordability to try to win over voters who are worried about the high cost of living with plans to emphasize new tax breaks and show progress on fighting inflation.
—Michelle L. Price, Fortune, 9 Nov. 2025
In her speech, James said the group is fighting to reclaim its master recordings from Universal Music Group.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
But this story isn’t just for pro-fighting fans.
—Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Oct. 2025
Some had joined Ukrainian combat units as volunteers, while others have sought to assist the Ukrainian people in non-fighting capacities.
—Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2023
But the computer model couldn’t distinguish fighting roosters from non-fighting roosters.
—Jeff Horwitz, WSJ, 17 Oct. 2021
Noun
McDearmond learned that when Hannah was in the hospital fighting for her life, Brian tried to take out even more policies.
—CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
Exchange of accusations Syria’s Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa told state TV that Kurdish fighters used civilian buildings including hospitals and clinics during the fighting.
—Ghaith Alsayed, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Chisholm Trail girls basketball head coach David Norris has spent his 35-year career fighting for others on the basketball court.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Jan. 2026
In the meantime, however, the tireless work of humanitarians continues on the ground, with no end to the fighting in sight.
—Byguy Davies, ABC News, 9 Jan. 2026
Sudan’s civil war has marked 1000 days of fighting since the conflict erupted in April 2023.
—Preeti Jha, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Among those killed was a former Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) community health worker who was unable to get medical attention after a building used by the aid group became a battleground during the intense fighting on Tuesday.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
After years of fighting for its survival in the face of hacks and growing regulatory hostility, crypto’s fortunes abruptly change.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
The ongoing breakout in fighting is the most severe yet, and has exposed Washington as unable to fully contain the situation.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
Impressively, Newcastle have reached mid-January still fighting — and, in a roundabout way, even (arguably) thriving — on all four fronts, albeit in a non-linear and rarely convincing fashion.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Candid figure on war, civil rights and religion Beyond the boxing ring, Ali was outspoken about his beliefs when many Black Americans were still fighting to be heard.
—Dallas Morning News, 12 Jan. 2026
And then fighting a good fight against the Thunder before being undone by an 18-2 Oklahoma City run in the third period.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2026
As Florida’s second consecutive Group of 5 hire, Sumrall is fighting an image battle with the Gator fan base, for whom the failures of Billy Napier have left a lingering sting.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
The administration has joined the Magnificent Seven tech companies, which wield greater power than most nation-states, in fighting regulatory control of artificial intelligence.
—Max Hastings, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
On the DeFi front, crypto advocates are fighting to ensure developers do not face prosecution when their technology is used for illicit activities like money laundering.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 11 Jan. 2026
In response, the White House is planning to adjust its messaging strategy to focus on affordability to try to win over voters who are worried about the high cost of living with plans to emphasize new tax breaks and show progress on fighting inflation.
—Michelle L. Price, Fortune, 9 Nov. 2025
In her speech, James said the group is fighting to reclaim its master recordings from Universal Music Group.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fighting
Noun
-
Varta has introduced DroneHunter Varta, a counter-drone system built to help infantry units counter enemy FPV drones in close-range combat at CES 2026.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The shooting left some residents calling for change to help combat crime.—
Adi Guajardo,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Chicago Bulls legend and Simeon High School graduate Derrick Rose was back at the Advocate Center on Friday to surprise a young Bulls fan who's battling cancer.—
Matt Zahn,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Carter's final film role came in 2020's The Way Back, which starred Ben Affleck as a high school basketball coach battling with alcoholism.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
His innovative play-calling and offensive schemes emphasizing speed put opposing defenses on their heels.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The president has intensified his rhetoric on Greenland, threatening to impose new tariffs on countries opposing the sale of the Danish territory to the United States.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Rather than competing in commoditized energy markets, the company has positioned itself as a premium provider of mission-critical infrastructure.—
Geri Stengel,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
There's also a lineup of documentaries whose subjects include singers Courtney Love and Marianne Faithfull, tennis legend Billie Jean King, author Salman Rushdie, and topics like artificial intelligence, summitting K2, and children competing to sell the most Girl Scout cookies.—
David Morgan,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Someone on the bench started bickering with Cameroon’s first goalscorer, Junior Tchamadeu, during a break in play.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The Federal Reserve chair and the president stood stiffly, side by side, in matching hard hats, bickering on a building site, for all the world to see.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
According to the department, Sutton currently faces three counts of resisting an officer, two counts of public intimidation, two counts of battery of a police officer, one count of disturbing the peace and one count of criminal trespassing.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Of the many types of basil, the classic Italian 'Treviso' variety stands out for resisting bitterness, staying tender longer, and being slow to flower even as summer heats up.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
By 1900, only a precious few Blackfeet had made it through the gantlet of smallpox, warfare, starvation, and Christianization.—
David Treuer,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Drone use is increasing in Africa across various sectors, including by the military for surveillance and warfare like in Sudan, but also for social services.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Why our survival matters (and the ethical value of combatting climate change).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Jan. 2026
-
At the time MiCA came into force, the United States federal government had yet to enact any digital asset regulation and was more focused on combating malfeasance in the sector.—
Zennon Kapron,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fighting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fighting. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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