fights 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of fight
1
2
3
as in competes
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
5

fights

2 of 2

noun

plural of fight
1
2
3

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 fights
Verb
The scene is organized into certain beats, as Cole fights various people and then takes a breath between some of them. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 July 2026 Don’t make changes, and you’re accused of being a dusty, immovable relic that fights to maintain relevancy. Michael Schneider, Variety, 23 July 2026 The lowest score came from The Guardian, which handed it two stars out of five, while Giant Bomb landed positive overall with a complaint that the boss fights lean on damage sponges more than puzzles. Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 Recent budget fights over increasing defense spending, which failed to commit the UK to NATO’s spending targets at a time when wars in Ukraine and the Middle East continue, only serve to illustrate this. Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 17 July 2026 Though some speculated that Page might be playing Achilles, the actor is actually portraying Odysseus’ cousin Sinon, who fights alongside the king in the Trojan War. Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 16 July 2026 Instead of succumbing to tropey writing, Ellis-Taylor fights hard for specificity. Judy Berman, Time, 15 July 2026 Along the way, our hero encounters the sorceress Circe, who turns his companions into pigs; makes a descent into Hades; fights the song of the sirens; and survives the island of the nymph Calypso. Valentina Colosimo, Vanity Fair, 14 July 2026 The court also limited its ruling to the realm of sports, leaving for another day fights over bathroom and locker room access for trans students. Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 8 July 2026
Noun
Both Roach, coming off three consecutive draws in title fights, and Zepeda, looking to bounce back from a loss, desperately need a decisive win. Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 That divide has become more pronounced as national politics seep into local education fights. Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 21 July 2026 Styles make fights Firstly, this will be a clash of two very opposing styles. Ben Church, CNN Money, 19 July 2026 In some physical altercations, both residents were aggressors, while other fights were one-sided. Jordan Rau, NPR, 19 July 2026 Another takeover involving more than 300 teens happened on Saturday at the boardwalk in University City, where multiple fights broke out. Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2026 The fights about data centers can often take the form of collisions between companies and community members. Laura Mullenbach, Fortune, 14 July 2026 Of his 24 professional fights before Saturday, most were against obscure opponents and all but three were in Germany. ABC News, 11 July 2026 What is new is that the federal government has reignited such fights, elevating local division to a new level of official dissent. Tara Sonenshine, Baltimore Sun, 11 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fights
Verb
  • The Packers signed long snapper Cal Adomitis as incumbent Matt Orzech battles a calf injury.
    Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • Stay open to alternative solutions while the Pisces moon battles Uranus.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 31 July 2026
Verb
  • The Sun in your 2nd House of Resources opposes Pluto in your 8th House of Shared Resources, spotlighting debts, joint expenses, intimacy, obligations, or the emotional price of staying vague.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 July 2026
  • Missourians for Fair Taxation, largely funded by the Missouri Association of Realtors PAC, opposes the measure.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026
Verb
  • Jay still competes as part of the Huntington Beach Boardriders Club and holds down a major spot in the lineup at the pier.
    Corky Carroll, Oc Register, 18 July 2026
  • Every tool that requires setup, configuration, or behavioral change competes for a finite pool of attention.
    Vivian Toh, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • The pope, played by Samora la Perdida, is a mincing oaf who bickers with Galas about the value of translating Wagner.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • He can be painted as a villain rather easily, which Sewell resists on a constant basis.
    David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 1 Aug. 2026
  • What emerges from all of this is a labor story that resists the clean narrative either side wants to tell.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 July 2026
Noun
  • Emboldened by multiple skirmishes, TCU’s offense had its best day of camp, offering a glimpse of what the new-look scheme could be during the season.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026
  • In the following days there were sporadic reports of minor skirmishes between protesters and police forces, which were reinforced with more troops.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026
Noun
  • This systemic difference leads to vastly higher capitalization and ticket prices on Broadway, indicating that its financial struggles will continue without significant policy intervention and public funding.
    Katie North, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • As for his personal life, Eric has been open about his struggles with substance abuse.
    Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 29 July 2026
Noun
  • Often, altercations involving a resident with dementia erupt after danger signals are missed or ineffectively addressed, according to a KFF Health News examination of court records, police reports, and state and federal inspection reports.
    Jordan Rau, NPR, 19 July 2026
  • Retired Miami Heat forward and captain Udonis Haslem found himself in more than a few altercations during his NBA playing career.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026

Cite this Entry

“Fights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fights. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on fights

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!