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
Yohana Desta, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2026
Ucg | Universal Images Group | Getty Images Novo Nordisk’s shift from a market darling to a serious underperformer has set the stage for a transitional 2026 as the Danish drugmaker fights to regain investor confidence in its weight loss business.
—Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 1 Jan. 2026
The only difference is that the villain gives into this evil and Will fights it.
—Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
She was seen in the ring for the Jahmal Harvery-Kevin Cervantes and the Paul-Anthony Joshua fights.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
This is where Cidara, a small San Diego pharmaceutical company, created what the scientific community has talked about for decades — a kind of universal flu shot that fights all forms of influenza.
—Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 2025
An elderly man looks back over his life and, in the modern day, fights the attempts of those around him to take away his beloved canine companion.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 27 Dec. 2025
Insulation fights conduction by trapping air in a web of tiny pockets, slowing the heat’s escape.
—Longji Cui, The Conversation, 26 Dec. 2025
The movie, about a pop girl group called HUNTR/X that fights demons, was a smash hit.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
Alex Ritman, Variety, 6 Jan. 2026
Town budgets, school boards, zoning fights, shoreline resilience — these are problems that punish purity.
—Robert T.f. Downes, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2026
Don’t use past mistakes as weapons in current fights, but stay aware of the patterns in financial connections.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 5 Jan. 2026
Assassin’s Creed is described as a high-octane thriller centered on the secret war between two shadowy factions — one set on determining mankind’s future through control and manipulation, while the other fights to preserve free will.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 2 Jan. 2026
There have been many frustrations in this Chiefs season — initially, their inability to turn fourth-quarter fights into wins, and more recently a season-ending injury to quarterback Patrick Mahomes that would’ve made this conversation moot anyway.
—Kansas City Star, 2 Jan. 2026
Look no further than the fact that the crew got into two separate fights this year while wearing silly wigs.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 1 Jan. 2026
The Democratic crackup that’s now underway in Washington is distracting the party from a series of brutal fights just ahead that will culminate in next year’s midterms.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Martin's fights, namely her 1996 match against Deirdre Gogarty, brought women's boxing to a whole new audience.
—Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
Eleven finds her way to them, jumping inside the Mind Flayer to destroy Vecna, who’s controlling it from within, while Will fights telepathically from the outside, no longer empathetic or afraid to go toe to toe with his former saboteur.
—Yohana Desta, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2026
Ucg | Universal Images Group | Getty Images Novo Nordisk’s shift from a market darling to a serious underperformer has set the stage for a transitional 2026 as the Danish drugmaker fights to regain investor confidence in its weight loss business.
—Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 1 Jan. 2026
The only difference is that the villain gives into this evil and Will fights it.
—Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
She was seen in the ring for the Jahmal Harvery-Kevin Cervantes and the Paul-Anthony Joshua fights.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
This is where Cidara, a small San Diego pharmaceutical company, created what the scientific community has talked about for decades — a kind of universal flu shot that fights all forms of influenza.
—Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 2025
An elderly man looks back over his life and, in the modern day, fights the attempts of those around him to take away his beloved canine companion.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 27 Dec. 2025
Insulation fights conduction by trapping air in a web of tiny pockets, slowing the heat’s escape.
—Longji Cui, The Conversation, 26 Dec. 2025
The movie, about a pop girl group called HUNTR/X that fights demons, was a smash hit.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
Noun
According to reports, there were fights in the snake-like queue that formed.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 6 Jan. 2026
Town budgets, school boards, zoning fights, shoreline resilience — these are problems that punish purity.
—Robert T.f. Downes, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2026
Don’t use past mistakes as weapons in current fights, but stay aware of the patterns in financial connections.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 5 Jan. 2026
Assassin’s Creed is described as a high-octane thriller centered on the secret war between two shadowy factions — one set on determining mankind’s future through control and manipulation, while the other fights to preserve free will.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 2 Jan. 2026
There have been many frustrations in this Chiefs season — initially, their inability to turn fourth-quarter fights into wins, and more recently a season-ending injury to quarterback Patrick Mahomes that would’ve made this conversation moot anyway.
—Kansas City Star, 2 Jan. 2026
Look no further than the fact that the crew got into two separate fights this year while wearing silly wigs.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 1 Jan. 2026
The Democratic crackup that’s now underway in Washington is distracting the party from a series of brutal fights just ahead that will culminate in next year’s midterms.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Martin's fights, namely her 1996 match against Deirdre Gogarty, brought women's boxing to a whole new audience.
—Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fights
Verb
-
Chris Mara’s involvement in personnel decisions has been reduced in recent years, but his role as an owner is expected to grow as John Mara battles cancer.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Dallasta, 43, battles anxiety, which has worsened with Vesiolko's detention.—
Lauren Villagran,
USA Today,
21 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Roarke LaCoursiere, with the Indiana Catholic Conference, said the organization opposes the bill because while its members stand with the victims and their families, the death penalty doesn’t bring about justice.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The governor rightly opposes raising nation-leading personal income taxes but may be cracking open the door to raising business or other taxes to respond to federal cuts.—
Andrew Rein,
New York Daily News,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Cherry’s older brother, Taeshon, played collegiately and competes professionally overseas.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Sook also argued broadcast stations will continue to dominate political advertising sales, but faces stepped up competition from streaming services, where Nexstar competes with its NewsNation live TV streamer.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Nov. 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
-
Writer-director Craig Brewer resists the temptation to make Mike and Claire in any way pitiful or worthy of derision.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Everything is wrapped in a Ceraluminum ceramic finish that resists fingerprints and scratches while feeling premium in hand.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Hundreds of thousands of civilians were displaced from their homes in both countries when border skirmishes broke out for the second time this year.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Dec. 2025
-
For more than a century, Thailand and Cambodia have contested sovereignty at various undemarcated points along their 817-kilometer (508-mile) land border – a dispute that has occasionally exploded into skirmishes and fighting.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
27 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
But behind closed doors, the then-couple were facing marital struggles, as Betty claimed in her 2015 memoir, Telling On Myself.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The struggles of being a parent and the struggles of your child are so understandably private.—
Rosemary Rossi,
Variety,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
No arrests, detentions or altercations with police were reported.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Loud sounds of rioters and altercations with Capitol Police could be heard clearly.—
Sarah Ghermay,
Washington Post,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fights. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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