1
as in battles
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 opposes
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 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
as in bickers
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 resists
to refuse to give in to
I tried to fight the temptation to eat another cookie—and lost
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in skirmishes
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
a troubled youth who got into one fight after another
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in struggles
a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective
the mayoral candidate pledged to lead a successful fight to improve the city's schools
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in altercations
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
the couple have their share of fights, but they quickly get over them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fights
Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
Profits from the pumpkin patch go towards the Cooper Trooper Foundation, a nonprofit that fights childhood cancer through sibling support and a research fund set up at Monroe Carell Jr.
—Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean, 9 Oct. 2025
The National Guard is deployed in three American states and the District of Columbia, while the federal government fights in court for deployments in Illinois and Oregon -- where the states' governors have protested the orders -- to be upheld as legal.
—Chris Boccia, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2025
Military families must speak plainly about their hopes and fears, reminding the country of who fights and dies in our wars.
—Loree Sutton, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
An international team of war correspondents fights to report the truth.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 6 Oct. 2025
Hartnett is in Canada filming an untitled project for Netflix, which focuses on a fisherman who fights to protect his family and community when a sea creature begins to threaten his town.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2025
The long-running lawsuit from Serna’s family, first filed in 2020, is just one example of how the county needlessly fights and prolongs litigation, said civil rights lawyer Danielle Pena, who has sued the county over other jail deaths.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
In the opening stretch, as young Pat fights the power, we’re touched by the actor’s boyishness, still clinging to him at fifty.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Filmmaking is nitpicking, anxiety, fights, claustrophobia, exhaustion, euphoria.
—Susan Sontag, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2025
Since that night, Harrison has won two other UFC fights.
—Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Oct. 2025
Almeida has been dominant throughout the first few years of his UFC career, winning eight fights while losing only once, to Curtis Blaydes in 2024.
—Brett Appley, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
But none of them have managed to temper bruising, deadly fights over power and resources.
—Omar S Mahmood, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
Then Dern lost four of six fights, including her only knockout loss, and had stopped working with Parillo.
—Brian Martin, Oc Register, 24 Oct. 2025
The film’s climax is a genuinely spectacular action sequence that supercharges the already impressive fights of the original film to new heights, taking full advantage of the big screen to up the scale significantly.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2025
The wins, almost as much as the losses, have always come in fights.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
As Congress fights over the future of Affordable Care Act subsidies, the healthcare of millions of Floridians is on the line.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
Profits from the pumpkin patch go towards the Cooper Trooper Foundation, a nonprofit that fights childhood cancer through sibling support and a research fund set up at Monroe Carell Jr.
—Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean, 9 Oct. 2025
The National Guard is deployed in three American states and the District of Columbia, while the federal government fights in court for deployments in Illinois and Oregon -- where the states' governors have protested the orders -- to be upheld as legal.
—Chris Boccia, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2025
Military families must speak plainly about their hopes and fears, reminding the country of who fights and dies in our wars.
—Loree Sutton, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
An international team of war correspondents fights to report the truth.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 6 Oct. 2025
Hartnett is in Canada filming an untitled project for Netflix, which focuses on a fisherman who fights to protect his family and community when a sea creature begins to threaten his town.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2025
The long-running lawsuit from Serna’s family, first filed in 2020, is just one example of how the county needlessly fights and prolongs litigation, said civil rights lawyer Danielle Pena, who has sued the county over other jail deaths.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
In the opening stretch, as young Pat fights the power, we’re touched by the actor’s boyishness, still clinging to him at fifty.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
The woman said they are getting used to one another, but, luckily, there have been no fights.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Filmmaking is nitpicking, anxiety, fights, claustrophobia, exhaustion, euphoria.
—Susan Sontag, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2025
Since that night, Harrison has won two other UFC fights.
—Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Oct. 2025
Almeida has been dominant throughout the first few years of his UFC career, winning eight fights while losing only once, to Curtis Blaydes in 2024.
—Brett Appley, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
But none of them have managed to temper bruising, deadly fights over power and resources.
—Omar S Mahmood, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
Then Dern lost four of six fights, including her only knockout loss, and had stopped working with Parillo.
—Brian Martin, Oc Register, 24 Oct. 2025
The film’s climax is a genuinely spectacular action sequence that supercharges the already impressive fights of the original film to new heights, taking full advantage of the big screen to up the scale significantly.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2025
The wins, almost as much as the losses, have always come in fights.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fights
Verb
-
Per Pete Thamel of ESPN, the Red Raiders will ask redshirt freshman Will Hammond to make his first career start on Saturday as senior quarterback Behren Morton battles a leg injury.—
Jordan Sigler,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Brian Schottenheimer battles through injuries Heading into the game against the Jets, Schottenheimer’s offensive line was wrecked by injury.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Councilor Jesse Brown, who opposes the deal, said on social media Friday that the councilors sent a similar opposition letter to Gray's office for her consideration.—
Jordan Smith,
IndyStar,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Mainstream Jewish groups maintain that anti-Zionism, a broad term that generally opposes the idea of a standalone state with a Jewish-majority population, is antisemitic.—
CalMatters,
Mercury News,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Because Washington’s Zach Ertz has played his entire career in the NFC (previously with the Eagles, Cardinals and Lions) and the Chiefs’ Travis Kelce competes in the AFC, their teams have seldom met.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The documentary, from filmmaker Xander Robin and Artists Equity, is about an initiative undertaken by the Florida government during which the general public competes in a contest to remove invasive pythons from the Everglades.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
23 Oct. 2025
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
-
Verna insists the souls of the dead live within the alien ship, but Mitsuki resists the lure.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Her lens resists finality; every image feels open-ended, as if the story could turn in any direction.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Activists literally or figuratively flying the antifa flag have long been among the subset of people who go to protests to destroy property and get into violent skirmishes with far-right protestors (like the Proud Boys).—
Sal Rodriguez,
Oc Register,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Law enforcement officers have deployed tear gas and pepper balls in skirmishes with protesters.—
Natasha Korecki,
NBC news,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Bieber’s close friend Kendall Jenner has been open about her own struggles with acne—recently, becoming an ambassador for Therabody’s new LED mask, the TheraFace Mask Glo.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
26 Oct. 2025
-
And despite their struggles at times, the Dolphins haven’t wavered from investing in those young players in this 1-6 start.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
He’s also been involved in multiple public altercations and legal disputes, including a 2018 arrest over a parking spot dispute in New York City.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Many of the people devouring YoungBoy’s endless stream of new music have also been devouring news of his various altercations and legal cases.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fights. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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