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
ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
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
Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
The RedHawks weren’t done fighting, out-shooting Marshfield 13-6 in the third in an attempt to tie it back up.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Afghan authorities in the eastern Nangarhar province said that fighting was ongoing in the Torkham border area Friday morning.
—Munir Ahmed, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
Both sides had claimed to destroy border posts in that fighting.
—Reuters, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
Russia called for an immediate halt to the fighting and for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, Russian diplomat Zamir Kabulov told news agency RIA Novosti.
—Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
The fighting has alarmed the international community, particularly as the area is one where other militant groups, including al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, still have a presence and have been trying to resurface.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
The globe-trotting political thriller's star, Claire Danes, will join forces with her old parter in crime-fighting, Damian Lewis, to present one of the evening's awards.
—Jillian Sederholm, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Feb. 2026
For Tori, fighting means surviving Canada’s extreme winters and its harsh wilderness dangers.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
Amy Delaura, The Washington Examiner, 28 Feb. 2026
Glycolic acid is great for people with more resilient skin who need an intensive acne-fighting treatment.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 28 Feb. 2026
National Guard crews have been predominantly fighting fires in Talihina, Oklahoma, in Le Flore County, which is about an hour southeast of McAlester.
—Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 27 Feb. 2026
And, in the mid-1770s, that traveler might also hear talk of revolution, men recruiting others to join the militia fighting the British, even revolutionaries meeting in secret.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Here’s what to know about the latest attack, past clashes, and why the South Asian countries are fighting.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 27 Feb. 2026
The victim and the armed men then started fighting.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
In 2017, the 48-year-old former boxing champion retired from professional prize fighting undefeated at 50-0.
—Matt Schubert, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2026
The Nuggets are fighting against historical precedent once again in their pursuit of a championship.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Speaking ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Johnson told the BBC that the troops should be sent to peaceful regions in non-fighting roles.
—ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
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
Previous flare-ups have calmed after days of fighting, and mediation by foreign governments including Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
The RedHawks weren’t done fighting, out-shooting Marshfield 13-6 in the third in an attempt to tie it back up.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Afghan authorities in the eastern Nangarhar province said that fighting was ongoing in the Torkham border area Friday morning.
—Munir Ahmed, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
Both sides had claimed to destroy border posts in that fighting.
—Reuters, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
Russia called for an immediate halt to the fighting and for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, Russian diplomat Zamir Kabulov told news agency RIA Novosti.
—Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
The fighting has alarmed the international community, particularly as the area is one where other militant groups, including al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, still have a presence and have been trying to resurface.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
The globe-trotting political thriller's star, Claire Danes, will join forces with her old parter in crime-fighting, Damian Lewis, to present one of the evening's awards.
—Jillian Sederholm, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Feb. 2026
For Tori, fighting means surviving Canada’s extreme winters and its harsh wilderness dangers.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
Prosecutors are fighting to prevent Cox from being able to cross examine witnesses.
—Amy Delaura, The Washington Examiner, 28 Feb. 2026
Glycolic acid is great for people with more resilient skin who need an intensive acne-fighting treatment.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 28 Feb. 2026
National Guard crews have been predominantly fighting fires in Talihina, Oklahoma, in Le Flore County, which is about an hour southeast of McAlester.
—Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 27 Feb. 2026
And, in the mid-1770s, that traveler might also hear talk of revolution, men recruiting others to join the militia fighting the British, even revolutionaries meeting in secret.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Here’s what to know about the latest attack, past clashes, and why the South Asian countries are fighting.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 27 Feb. 2026
The victim and the armed men then started fighting.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
In 2017, the 48-year-old former boxing champion retired from professional prize fighting undefeated at 50-0.
—Matt Schubert, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2026
The Nuggets are fighting against historical precedent once again in their pursuit of a championship.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fighting
Noun
-
During the three-day trial, prosecutors disclosed Huitzilin’s full name, his wife’s full name, the names and ages of their children, their now-former home address and details about Huitzilin’s career as a federal agent and military combat veteran.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Now the United States military began, a short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Schools don’t want to have their coaches battling it out weekly with club coaches, which also would place additional pressure on athletes dealing with school work and then having to do double workouts.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Season 2 saw the ladies battling love, heartbreak, motherhood, jealousy, and the full force of the English legal system.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Hondurans had a chance to tie the score late when Nielsen spun down an opposing player in the box and was called for a foul.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Before the Red Sox signed Ranger Suarez to a five-year, $130 million contract this past winter, the All-Star lefty became renowned for his ability to squash opposing rallies by drawing key double plays in big spots.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
No one is competing for attention—the aesthetic leans East Coast understated luxury, with linen sets, oversized sun hats, and Hermès slides rather than logo-forward designer pieces—but most guests dress just polished enough to match the surrounding setting.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Feb. 2026
-
But for Randy Musterer, owner of Sushi Confidential restaurants in Campbell, Morgan Hill and San Jose, one of the main workforce challenges is competing with tech giants such as Google and Facebook, which are looking to poach his sushi chefs and catering staff for their campus cafeterias.—
Ethan Varian,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Her grandparents are constantly bickering, worn down by the pressures of keeping the family hotel afloat.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The choice not to pick a team has left fans bickering with each other.—
Mike Sullivan,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Leon also faces a Level 6 felony battery count and a misdemeanor charge of resisting law enforcement for kicking a Portage Police officer at the Northwest Health-Portage facility and persistently refusing to follow orders from arresting officers, documents state.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Organizers held a series of events focused on resisting immigration enforcement actions and calling for the abolition of ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), according to its website.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The pilot and his electronic warfare officer also struggled with a wet runway at Naval Air Station North Island during their second attempt to land, when winds were creating a tailwind on the landing runway.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The key driver of this growth in defense is drones, a technology that is rapidly advancing warfare and could have ripple effects on other commercial technologies down the line.—
Pia Singh,
CNBC,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This marks the second time France has summoned Kushner, who was also called in August over allegations that France wasn’t combating antisemitism adequately.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Rescuers trudged through the heavy snow, combatting gale force winds under white-out conditions and mindful that another avalanche could potentially barrel down from above, Sheriff Moon said.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fighting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fighting. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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