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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in battling
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in combat
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 fighting
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
Reuters, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
The video of her first walk after the surgery has generated over 180 comments in a matter of days, as social media users praised her fighting spirit.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
When the fighting stopped, the limits of the island were no longer the borders of the nation.
—David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Trump deploys 'Bibisitters' The first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal has largely held, though sporadic fighting since the deal was signed has erupted and left two Israeli soldiers and more than 40 Palestinians dead.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
But the fighting resumed in short order.
—Eric Cortellessa, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
This movie retells my story of finding strength and fighting for accountability after the tragic loss of my husband-to-be and the father of my children.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
He's widely credited for bringing about the Gaza truce after two years of intense fighting.
—NPR, 22 Oct. 2025
Hulu released the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season three trailer Wednesday morning (below), and the in-fighting and drama of season two is back tenfold.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025
Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
In reality, while the ceasefire has paused fighting and allowed limited humanitarian access, the deal leaves major issues unresolved — including Hamas’ future role, the disarmament question, and the political control of Gaza.
—Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
Unlike past films in the Predator franchise, the Badlands film solely focuses on Thia and Dek's journey battling other Predators, instead of humans fighting the extraterrestrials.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
However, instead of fighting the monster, a couple turns on each other by the last panel.
—PC Magazine, 25 Oct. 2025
The Rams are fighting uphill against a system where the decks are being stacked higher and higher against them.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 25 Oct. 2025
Venezuelan Maria Corina Machado just won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize for years of fighting to restore democracy in her country.
—Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
Future negotiations When announcing the start of the Ontario government’s advertisement campaign last week, Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, indicated a commitment to fighting tariffs.
—Surina Venkat, The Hill, 24 Oct. 2025
If fighting homelessness is a priority, lawmakers can shift funds from less-urgent matters.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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
Adjective
South Korea’s intelligence agency estimated in September that about 2,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed in the fighting.
—Reuters, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
The video of her first walk after the surgery has generated over 180 comments in a matter of days, as social media users praised her fighting spirit.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
When the fighting stopped, the limits of the island were no longer the borders of the nation.
—David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Trump deploys 'Bibisitters' The first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal has largely held, though sporadic fighting since the deal was signed has erupted and left two Israeli soldiers and more than 40 Palestinians dead.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
But the fighting resumed in short order.
—Eric Cortellessa, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
This movie retells my story of finding strength and fighting for accountability after the tragic loss of my husband-to-be and the father of my children.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
He's widely credited for bringing about the Gaza truce after two years of intense fighting.
—NPR, 22 Oct. 2025
Hulu released the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season three trailer Wednesday morning (below), and the in-fighting and drama of season two is back tenfold.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
That’s after the consumer price index for September inched up but came in below forecasts, clearing the way for the Fed to focus more on the maximum-employment side of its mandate than the inflation-fighting side.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
In reality, while the ceasefire has paused fighting and allowed limited humanitarian access, the deal leaves major issues unresolved — including Hamas’ future role, the disarmament question, and the political control of Gaza.
—Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
Unlike past films in the Predator franchise, the Badlands film solely focuses on Thia and Dek's journey battling other Predators, instead of humans fighting the extraterrestrials.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
However, instead of fighting the monster, a couple turns on each other by the last panel.
—PC Magazine, 25 Oct. 2025
The Rams are fighting uphill against a system where the decks are being stacked higher and higher against them.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 25 Oct. 2025
Venezuelan Maria Corina Machado just won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize for years of fighting to restore democracy in her country.
—Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
Future negotiations When announcing the start of the Ontario government’s advertisement campaign last week, Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, indicated a commitment to fighting tariffs.
—Surina Venkat, The Hill, 24 Oct. 2025
If fighting homelessness is a priority, lawmakers can shift funds from less-urgent matters.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fighting
Verb
-
Instead of a tie game, the Leafs were battling for a loose puck.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Taylor Swift is keeping her giving streak going by donating a life-changing chunk of change to Lilah, a 2-year-old Swiftie who’s battling brain cancer.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But some property owners have signed a petition opposing the initiative, which could keep it from going to the Common Council for consideration.—
Bridget Fogarty,
jsonline.com,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Conservative activist Riley Gaines, known for her advocacy opposing transgender individuals in women’s sports, has been appointed to the Sumner County Library Board.—
Diana Leyva,
Nashville Tennessean,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As a result, the Miss Universe Organization revoked her title for breaching contractual obligations by competing in another external pageant before finishing her reign.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Critics say both votes were marred by irregularities, including challengers being barred from competing.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Jennifer Aniston’s Alex Levy, Reese Witherspoon’s Bradley Jackson, and the other members of The Morning Show’s newsroom and its network are once again bickering and backstabbing.—
Emma Alpern,
Vulture,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Coaches are also bickering about money, a topic that would have felt out of place 10 years ago.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Booth was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree child abuse, assault and three counts of resisting, assaulting or obstructing police.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
29 Oct. 2025
-
She was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree child abuse, felonious assault and assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer, investigators said.—
Mike Stunson,
Kansas City Star,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
It is also thought to have advanced combat systems and can launch land-attack cruise missiles.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Oct. 2025
-
But the towns and cities nearest to the nuclear plant have found themselves under relentless bombardment from Russian artillery, missiles, and combat drones.—
Simon Shuster,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Baltimore won a playoff game last season and entered 2025 with expectations of contending for a Super Bowl title.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Colombia disputes this, contending that Santa Rosa did not exist when the treaty was signed and therefore cannot be claimed under its terms.—
Isa Cardona,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
While Spanish chroniclers numbered the population around the time of European contact to have been 1 million, anthropologists have disputed this, arguing instead for the population to have been 6–12 million.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Republicans have been arguing for a budget extension before negotiating on the credits.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fighting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fighting. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share