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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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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
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
Exports of helium, a key material in chipmaking and other manufacturing processes, have already been significantly curtailed by the fighting.
—Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2026
Several times since the war began, optimism on Wall Street has quickly deteriorated into doubt about a possible end to the fighting.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Hezbollah, meanwhile, urged people displaced by the fighting not to rush back to southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley and Beirut's southern suburbs until the situation becomes clearer.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 17 Apr. 2026
The fighting has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, more than 2,290 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states.
—Melanie Lidman, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Noah Centineo stars as John Rambo, the one-man fighting force.
—Pat Saperstein, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
The War Powers Resolution of 1973 requires presidents to withdraw after 60 days from any fighting that Congress has not authorized.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026
Lebanon has insisted on a ceasefire to stop the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah before engaging in more talks, while vowing to commit to disarming the group.
—Arkansas Online, 16 Apr. 2026
Jane Arraf, NPR, 11 Apr. 2026
Despite how difficult sitting through the case was, the jurors commended Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Marisa Tinkler Mendez for her fairness — and lead prosecutor Abbe Rifkin for fighting so hard for Quatisha.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
Boone Jenner, Sean Monahan and Kirill Marchenko also scored while Jet Greaves stopped 20 shots for Columbus, which is fighting to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
—ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026
Troubled waters In a digitally evolving society, Kodak has been fighting to keep its place and relevancy.
—Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2026
But Iran has allowed only a trickle of ships to continue through the channel since the pause in fighting.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
Warring nations also reach ceasefires when a powerful third country insists the two parties stop fighting due to risks to world peace and regional stability.
—Donald Heflin, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
Kawamura and Hirase seem to have perceived the immersive limitations of the movie medium—and, rather than fighting those limitations, adapted their story accordingly.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026
Tillman has run a conservative pressure group in Illinois working for traditional party goals—lowering taxes, fighting unions, being tough on crime.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 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
Later, after all the fighting at Kathy’s Hilton Garden Inn and Suites, Rachel has the same realization.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
Exports of helium, a key material in chipmaking and other manufacturing processes, have already been significantly curtailed by the fighting.
—Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2026
Several times since the war began, optimism on Wall Street has quickly deteriorated into doubt about a possible end to the fighting.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Hezbollah, meanwhile, urged people displaced by the fighting not to rush back to southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley and Beirut's southern suburbs until the situation becomes clearer.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 17 Apr. 2026
The fighting has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, more than 2,290 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states.
—Melanie Lidman, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Noah Centineo stars as John Rambo, the one-man fighting force.
—Pat Saperstein, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
The War Powers Resolution of 1973 requires presidents to withdraw after 60 days from any fighting that Congress has not authorized.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026
Lebanon has insisted on a ceasefire to stop the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah before engaging in more talks, while vowing to commit to disarming the group.
—Arkansas Online, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
The camp is entirely dependent on aid, disrupted after cuts by USAID last year and again by fighting between Syrian and Kurdish forces this February.
—Jane Arraf, NPR, 11 Apr. 2026
Despite how difficult sitting through the case was, the jurors commended Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Marisa Tinkler Mendez for her fairness — and lead prosecutor Abbe Rifkin for fighting so hard for Quatisha.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
Boone Jenner, Sean Monahan and Kirill Marchenko also scored while Jet Greaves stopped 20 shots for Columbus, which is fighting to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
—ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026
Troubled waters In a digitally evolving society, Kodak has been fighting to keep its place and relevancy.
—Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2026
But Iran has allowed only a trickle of ships to continue through the channel since the pause in fighting.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
Warring nations also reach ceasefires when a powerful third country insists the two parties stop fighting due to risks to world peace and regional stability.
—Donald Heflin, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
Kawamura and Hirase seem to have perceived the immersive limitations of the movie medium—and, rather than fighting those limitations, adapted their story accordingly.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026
Tillman has run a conservative pressure group in Illinois working for traditional party goals—lowering taxes, fighting unions, being tough on crime.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fighting
Noun
-
The Navy has 16 warships — 11 destroyers, three amphibious assault ships, an aircraft carrier and a littoral combat ship — in the Middle East out of a battle force of roughly 300 total warships.—
Konstantin Toropin,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
-
How much to rely on that bot – and when to let go – is a moral quandary for the grieving former combat surgeon who had her license revoked after a tragedy.—
Anika Reed,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Patrick called out Cornyn and Paxton, who are battling each other to win the Republican primary runoff on May 26.—
Jack Fink,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Nigeria is battling a complex security crisis, especially in the north, where there is a decade-long insurgency and several armed groups that kidnap for ransom.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Using Hart on Johnson allowed the Knicks to put 6-7 forward OG Anunoby — normally their defensive stopper against opposing wings — on 6-10 center Onyeka Okongwu, who thrives in the pick-and-pop game.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Some of the progressives now opposing Iron Dome funding are arguing that Israel does not need the assistance.—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Biles celebrated Owens' birthday from Japan while competing in the Tokyo Olympics, sharing a series of photos to Instagram alongside a sweet caption.—
Diane J. Cho,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Our guys were excited, competing hard.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
For those of us interested in governing and not bickering, this is a good thing.—
Gail Slater,
Rolling Stone,
16 Apr. 2026
-
In some states, lawmakers are still bickering over how money should be spent.—
Lisa Jarvis,
Twin Cities,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The plainclothes detectives, who were wearing NYPD vests, then dragged Brown on the floor, over shards of broken glass, to the front of the store, ordering him to stop resisting.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Kessman suggests resisting the temptation to start deep-cleaning or creating an entire organizing system at this stage.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Olivia, a former FBI hostage negotiator, is dating Greg Focker’s (Stiller) son, and psychological family warfare ensues.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Of course, there are additional legal frameworks outside of UNCLOS that specifically govern behavior during times of conflict, such as the law of naval warfare, which does allow for blockades.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Among the most controversial recent amendments to German cultural policy came in 2024, when German parliament approved a declaration aimed at combating antisemitism.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Keerat Sharma, Google's vice president and general manager of ads privacy and safety, said the advancement of generative AI as a part of Google's defense system has led to more powerful results in combatting problematic content.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fighting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fighting. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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