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
Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 31 Mar. 2026
Instead of fighting fire with fire, Lamont fights fire with facts.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2026
This face serum brightens and evens skin tone, fights free radicals, supports collagen production, and softens the look of fine lines and wrinkles for glowing, healthy-looking skin.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026
The spirit of generosity did finally return to Capitol Hill seeing as last month Congress passed a funding bill that included billions in humanitarian aid, including funding for PEPFAR, the program that fights HIV and tuberculosis in low-income countries.
—Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026
The Department of Homeland Security has faced a funding shortfall for more than 40 days as Congress fights over federal immigration enforcement.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2026
Jamie joins Daniel Morgan’s Rifle Corps and fights in the Battle of Saratoga.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2026
There’s an incredible sequence where Zazie Beetz’s character fights cultists with a flaming axe.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 25 Mar. 2026
In motorcycle manufacture, Thailand fights even further out of it’s weight zone, and is a top-5 global manufacturing nation with Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Triumph, Harley-Davidson, BMW and Ducati all having manufacturing plants in the Kingdom.
—Mike Hanlon
march 25, New Atlas, 25 Mar. 2026
Benjamin Siegel, ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026
While still being finalized, the card features two championship fights.
—Will Weissert, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Kim, a first-term senator elected in 2024 after serving in the House, has previously been reluctant to weigh in on internal leadership fights.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 29 Mar. 2026
La Jolla’s Marine Street Beach often has been used as a hangout for local youths, with some of the gatherings involving alcohol or ending in fights.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Despite those efforts, police said, several disturbances and fights broke out in the area in the hours after the Reds game, prompting calls for police assistance.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 27 Mar. 2026
People attending concerts walked in the street to avoid the proselytizers and officers had to leave their posts to prevent fights from breaking out, according to officials.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
There will be whale fights, corporate speed dating, and a literary shotgun wedding.
—Willa Rubin, NPR, 20 Mar. 2026
Sporadic fire fights stretched on for nearly a year.
—Megan Janetsky, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
Blaydes fights Josh Hokit on the main card of UFC 327 on April 11 in Miami.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 31 Mar. 2026
Instead of fighting fire with fire, Lamont fights fire with facts.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2026
This face serum brightens and evens skin tone, fights free radicals, supports collagen production, and softens the look of fine lines and wrinkles for glowing, healthy-looking skin.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026
The spirit of generosity did finally return to Capitol Hill seeing as last month Congress passed a funding bill that included billions in humanitarian aid, including funding for PEPFAR, the program that fights HIV and tuberculosis in low-income countries.
—Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026
The Department of Homeland Security has faced a funding shortfall for more than 40 days as Congress fights over federal immigration enforcement.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2026
Jamie joins Daniel Morgan’s Rifle Corps and fights in the Battle of Saratoga.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2026
There’s an incredible sequence where Zazie Beetz’s character fights cultists with a flaming axe.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 25 Mar. 2026
In motorcycle manufacture, Thailand fights even further out of it’s weight zone, and is a top-5 global manufacturing nation with Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Triumph, Harley-Davidson, BMW and Ducati all having manufacturing plants in the Kingdom.
—Mike Hanlon
march 25, New Atlas, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
Others dropped re-election bids following redistricting fights that scrambled political maps and would have forced them to campaign in new districts.
—Benjamin Siegel, ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026
While still being finalized, the card features two championship fights.
—Will Weissert, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Kim, a first-term senator elected in 2024 after serving in the House, has previously been reluctant to weigh in on internal leadership fights.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 29 Mar. 2026
La Jolla’s Marine Street Beach often has been used as a hangout for local youths, with some of the gatherings involving alcohol or ending in fights.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Despite those efforts, police said, several disturbances and fights broke out in the area in the hours after the Reds game, prompting calls for police assistance.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 27 Mar. 2026
People attending concerts walked in the street to avoid the proselytizers and officers had to leave their posts to prevent fights from breaking out, according to officials.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
There will be whale fights, corporate speed dating, and a literary shotgun wedding.
—Willa Rubin, NPR, 20 Mar. 2026
Sporadic fire fights stretched on for nearly a year.
—Megan Janetsky, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fights
Verb
-
The series ran from 1993 to 2001 and followed Ranger Cordell Walker, a Texas lawman who battles crime with a black belt and strong personal code.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
-
As fans debate whether to renew now, there is again a question mark hanging over the club, as Pereira battles to lead Forest clear of the threat of relegation.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But a local group, Middlebury Small Town Alliance that opposes warehouse construction particularly at the Timex property, filed a legal challenge in Waterbury Superior Court.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
29 Mar. 2026
-
McMorrow opposes Schumer; el Sayed did not respond.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The South Korean startup competes not only with Nvidia but also with a growing list of other startups from Cerebras to Groq — a company that Nvidia licenses technology from.—
Arjun Kharpal,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The top finisher from Massachusetts was Haverhill native Shea Morris, who competes for the New York Military Academy during the high school season.—
Barry Scanlon,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 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
-
One of Lerner’s virtues as a writer is that his work resists this relentless gathering of data (news, text messages, posts), a gathering that’s both abundant and diffuse, and that, paradoxically, feels like a giving over of one’s mind and capacities to fuzzy abstraction.—
Hannah Gold,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
-
This type of steel retains its sharpness over extended use, resists corrosion and rust, and doesn't chip easily.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
With billions of dollars at stake, the conflicts manifest in sharp skirmishes in the Legislature, in courts and in the ballot measure arena.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
In a dangerous escalation from cross-border skirmishes, Pakistan launched air strikes at the end of February, targeting major cities including Kabul.—
Harriet Marsden,
TheWeek,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Both trials — one in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the other in Los Angeles — pointed to the struggles Meta has faced to adequately police Facebook and Instagram, which remain the company's primary cash engines due to their dominant position in digital advertising.—
Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The Trueba family’s passions, struggles, and secrets span a century of violent social change, culminating in a crisis that hurls the proud, tyrannical patriarch and his beloved granddaughter towards opposite sides of the fence.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But in a rare but potentially growing number of instances, local law enforcement officers say, frustrations on the Valley’s increasingly congested roads are escalating into threats, altercations and sometimes deadly violence.—
Rose Evans
Updated March 3,
Idaho Statesman,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Lakewood police said officers returned to the area later after receiving reports of altercations, injuries, and a growing crowd of onlookers.—
Jasmine Arenas,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fights. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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