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
Reuters, NBC news, 16 Feb. 2026
The move comes as the administration simultaneously fights offshore wind projects in the Northeast, some of which are fully permitted or under construction.
—Garrett Downs, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026
Those included water bottles thrown at police, fights breaking out among students and reckless driving going on too close to the crowd, police said.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Yet the administration is silent on charter engagement, and fights other high-performing public-school models that have expanded opportunities for Black students.
—Darius Jones, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2026
Texans deserve an Attorney General who fights crime without apology and delivers safer streets for every family.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
The movie, about a pop girl group, HUNTR/X, that fights demons and protect South Korea from them, was a smash hit.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
However, fights outside the dojo or a tournament were rare for Warren’s students.
—Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 10 Feb. 2026
The Calpak Luka Mini Softside Carry-on feels more like a plush weekender than a spinner, and the Bagsmart Hardside Carry-on zips open clamshell-style and never fights me at TSA.
—Brandon Schultz, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2026
Gregory Royal Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
The dominant force in big tech has shifted from online censorship fights, which sharpened questions about platforms’ size and reach, to AI urgency, where the industry and the White House are more aligned.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 14 Feb. 2026
The hottest fights are in the justice system.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Traditional barnstorming, air wars and social media fights have marked contentious GOP wrangling in Texas’ marquee race.
—Joseph Morton, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
Dyche had previous experience of fights to climb away from trouble in the Premier League table with both Burnley and Everton.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
This would be an unprecedented change in Oakland, where critics say the mayor’s relative lack of legislative authority has driven divisions in the local government, including political fights and budget standoffs.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
The House Ethics Committee, which is comprised of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans and tries to stay away from political fights, typically handles allegations involving lawmakers and their family members.
—Stephen Groves, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2026
The House Ethics Committee, which is comprised of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans and tries to stay away from political fights, typically handles allegations involving lawmakers and their family members.
—Stephen Groves, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
The case sparked a political scandal last year that led to the ouster of Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, and fueled new public anger at lingering corruption as Ukraine fights Russia in its four-year war.
—Reuters, NBC news, 16 Feb. 2026
The move comes as the administration simultaneously fights offshore wind projects in the Northeast, some of which are fully permitted or under construction.
—Garrett Downs, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026
Those included water bottles thrown at police, fights breaking out among students and reckless driving going on too close to the crowd, police said.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Yet the administration is silent on charter engagement, and fights other high-performing public-school models that have expanded opportunities for Black students.
—Darius Jones, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2026
Texans deserve an Attorney General who fights crime without apology and delivers safer streets for every family.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
The movie, about a pop girl group, HUNTR/X, that fights demons and protect South Korea from them, was a smash hit.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
However, fights outside the dojo or a tournament were rare for Warren’s students.
—Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 10 Feb. 2026
The Calpak Luka Mini Softside Carry-on feels more like a plush weekender than a spinner, and the Bagsmart Hardside Carry-on zips open clamshell-style and never fights me at TSA.
—Brandon Schultz, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
That set off a flurry of court briefs, legal fights and public protests calling for Torres’s release.
—Gregory Royal Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
The dominant force in big tech has shifted from online censorship fights, which sharpened questions about platforms’ size and reach, to AI urgency, where the industry and the White House are more aligned.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 14 Feb. 2026
The hottest fights are in the justice system.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Traditional barnstorming, air wars and social media fights have marked contentious GOP wrangling in Texas’ marquee race.
—Joseph Morton, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
Dyche had previous experience of fights to climb away from trouble in the Premier League table with both Burnley and Everton.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
This would be an unprecedented change in Oakland, where critics say the mayor’s relative lack of legislative authority has driven divisions in the local government, including political fights and budget standoffs.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
The House Ethics Committee, which is comprised of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans and tries to stay away from political fights, typically handles allegations involving lawmakers and their family members.
—Stephen Groves, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2026
The House Ethics Committee, which is comprised of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans and tries to stay away from political fights, typically handles allegations involving lawmakers and their family members.
—Stephen Groves, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fights
Verb
-
Armed with beauty, daring/hustle and sheer force of will/unwavering ambition, Undine battles an entrenched elite, fearlessly courting controversy, until love and fortune align.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Extras sporting afros and ’70s garb walk past Potente, while the crew battles noisy busses to grab a few seconds of footage.—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Councilor Jesse Brown, who represents the area just south of the site in question, opposes the project.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Bolton opposes the developer’s plan to move the live oak, arguing that moving the tree could kill it.—
Catherine Odom,
Miami Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Pollard heads to the Berlinale as a film he executive produced, The Perfect Neighbor, competes for Best Documentary Feature at the Academy Awards.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Only one person competes, pushing the sled at the start and piloting down the course at speeds of 70 to 80 mph.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 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
-
If a partner or key ally resists a plan, ask what outcome matters most to them before offering your creative solution.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Friction-maxxing, originally coined to describe a parenting strategy that resists using a screen to address a child’s behavior, is now used to push back against the culture of convenience.—
Allan Smith,
NBC news,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
And while his 11 years with the Yankees were often marked with verbal skirmishes with George Steinbrenner, in 1982 the Boss showed his respect for Nettles’ baseball acumen and quiet clubhouse leadership to name him the first Yankee captain since Thurman Munson’s death in 1979.—
Bill Madden,
New York Daily News,
31 Jan. 2026
-
These were not skirmishes but full-scale conflicts, usually costing tens—sometimes hundreds—of thousands of lives.—
Robert Kagan,
The Atlantic,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Focusing on Mental Health Everything changed when a 24-year-old Simone Biles withdrew from the finals during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, mentioning her mental health struggles.—
Kristy Alpert,
Outside,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Her struggles are relatable, and her emotional victories — which often involve calling in help from Bandit, or her neighbor Wendy — feel likewise within reach.—
Miranda Rake,
Parents,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The lawsuit claims that Metcalf had a history of being involved in altercations and alleges that Ford Field should have known about Metcalf's history and failed to protect Kennedy.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Clark warned him against becoming involved in any physical altercations.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fights. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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