FIGHTS Synonyms: 242 Similar and Opposite Words

fights 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of fight

as in battles

to oppose (someone) in physical conflict a proud people who have fiercely fought all invaders of their homeland

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as in opposes

to strive to reduce or eliminate a civil rights leader who dedicated his life to fighting prejudice

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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

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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!

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as in resists

to refuse to give in to I tried to fight the temptation to eat another cookie—and lost

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fights

2 of 2

noun

plural of fight

as in skirmishes

a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups a troubled youth who got into one fight after another

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truces

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

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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

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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 merch quickly gained traction on social media as the 38-year-old congresswoman fights to hold her battleground seat for a third term. — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 8 Sep. 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. — ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026 Multiple fights over congressional maps have been brought to the Supreme Court in the past year. — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026 There, the tyrannical February has condemned its inhabitants to eternal winter and forbids them from flying, while a masked resistance movement known as The Solution fights to restore light and freedom. — Alexandra Patterson, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026 Culture war fights that once fueled the rise of Moms for Liberty are now losing steam in local Florida politics. — Trinity Webster-Bass, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026 Another shoreside community fights beach erosion Laguna Beach public works officials have closed a section of Aliso Beach’s parking lot after high tides and strong waves washed away sand and undermined a section of the lot. — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 Conceived as the female counterpart to Superman and Batman, the heroine is an Amazon who fights against injustice and the forces of evil, driven by an ideal of equality and peace. — Giorgia Olivieri, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026 Arjona stars in Onslaught as a mother and soldier who fights to protect her daughter from a group of super-soldiers who attack in the desert. — Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026

Noun

These included bitter title fights and tangles with his former teammate Nico Rosberg, plus flashpoints with Valtteri Bottas and Russell. — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026 His signature project, a White House ballroom and underground bunker, continues as legal fights play out. — Bill Barrow, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026 Bloomberg via Getty Images; Getty Images Several battlegrounds have begun to tilt toward Democrats, and real fights are emerging in red states as control of the Senate wanes. — Kaylah Jackson, NBC news, 8 Sep. 2026 That gave us the opportunity to really use him for a great deal of the fights. — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2026 The movie follows Lucius’ return to Rome as a slave, forced to compete in gladiator fights as his father Maximus (Crowe’s character from the original movie) did before him. — Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026 In a few boss fights, the battles can suddenly change into a completely different format. — George Yang, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026 While clearing mobs of enemies can be fun, the combat really shines during the game’s many boss fights. — Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026 This debate over his nomination is both a test for a Council that describes itself as pro-housing and a preview of future housing fights. — Annemarie Gray, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fights

Verb

But Xu’s fortunes have turned in four short years as Shein battles tariffs, political scrutiny and growing competition.

— Dave Sebastian, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
The youngest of late Lakers owner Jerry Buss’ six children, the brothers have made the Padres their first major investment as the family battles over the sale of its remaining Lakers stake.

— Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of battles

Verb

Hossain resists reading the film as a direct response to that period, though.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Why At a time when images are constantly produced and quickly forgotten, this open call invites artists to create work that resists repetition, holds attention, and makes something felt.

— Alessia Glaviano, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of resists

Noun

Its outcome will be a major milestone in the decades-long political skirmishes over CEQA.

— Dan Walters, Oc Register, 26 Aug. 2026
In 1988, for instance, Khomeini finally agreed to end his war with Iraq after the United States began engaging Iranian naval ships in direct skirmishes, leading him to fear that Reagan might formally align with Saddam Hussein’s regime.

— Nate Swanson, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of skirmishes

Noun

New quarterback Rocco Becht threw for 271 yards and four touchdowns in his debut as Penn State had two passes over 40 yards and 14 over 10 yards, a massive improvement from the struggles in previous years.

— The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
But Mora emphasizes that the largest number of drone reports come from within Mexico, particularly in the state of Sinaloa, amid the internal struggles of the powerful cartel that operates there.

— Sol Amaya, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of struggles

Noun

After marching from Crocker Park in downtown Sacramento, the protest groups engaged in verbal and physical altercations across a barricade formed by law enforcement officers.

— Hannah Ruhoff, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Simple assault are altercations and incidents that don’t involve weapons or serious injuries, including domestic incidents.

— Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026