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
Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 2 May 2026
Demonizing the opponent is an effective political tactic and each side fights fire with fire.
—Andrew Cuomo, New York Daily News, 2 May 2026
Its expert team enforces strict production rules, promotes the brand globally, fights counterfeits and certifies every wheel.
—Antonia Mortensen, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
The redistricting fights most likely to play out over the next few years following a Supreme Court ruling.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 30 Apr. 2026
This team fights through adversity.
—Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Ever since, fans have been hooked to see how the friend group navigate fights big and small.
—Colleen Kratofil, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
The 31-year-old McKee (24-2), who fights out of Long Beach, continues his pursuit to reclaim his place atop the 145-pound division.
—Brian Martin, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Years later, as Ukraine fights a war to defend its democracy — to preserve a state where institutions serve the people rather than dictators, where the press remains independent, and where citizens can shape the politics around them — the contrast between the two countries is striking.
—Nataliya Gumenyuk, The Dial, 21 Apr. 2026
Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 2 May 2026
Even if there were arguments and fights, there was still love between those arguments and fights.
—Rick Stroud, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 May 2026
Attorneys offer competing descriptions of fights Attorneys for Paul and Mortensen offered competing versions of fights between the pair, with each suggesting the other party was the aggressor.
—Hannah Schoenbaum, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
At one point, Sacramento police staffed 50 officers at or around the mall to prevent fights from occuring.
—Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
In recent years, he's frequently attended UFC fights, including on April 11 in Miami.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Donald and Ivana split in 1990, following tabloid reports of infidelity and volatile fights.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Attendees reported hearing gunshots and witnessing fights, leading to panic, chaos and crowd surges, police said.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
But fights are just as integral to the Netflix show created by Lee Sung Jin, and the series’ sound team needed to do even more meticulous work building visceral senses of anger, stress, and dread that slowly swallow up the characters and steer them into making a compounding set of poor decisions.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
Even as the county fights to preserve services amid ongoing fiscal struggles, the budget cuts could lead to closures in behavioral health clinics and potential delays to some healthcare.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 2 May 2026
Demonizing the opponent is an effective political tactic and each side fights fire with fire.
—Andrew Cuomo, New York Daily News, 2 May 2026
Its expert team enforces strict production rules, promotes the brand globally, fights counterfeits and certifies every wheel.
—Antonia Mortensen, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
The redistricting fights most likely to play out over the next few years following a Supreme Court ruling.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 30 Apr. 2026
This team fights through adversity.
—Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Ever since, fans have been hooked to see how the friend group navigate fights big and small.
—Colleen Kratofil, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
The 31-year-old McKee (24-2), who fights out of Long Beach, continues his pursuit to reclaim his place atop the 145-pound division.
—Brian Martin, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Years later, as Ukraine fights a war to defend its democracy — to preserve a state where institutions serve the people rather than dictators, where the press remains independent, and where citizens can shape the politics around them — the contrast between the two countries is striking.
—Nataliya Gumenyuk, The Dial, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
Four interior cameras focused on student safety, including incidents such as bullying or fights.
—Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 2 May 2026
Even if there were arguments and fights, there was still love between those arguments and fights.
—Rick Stroud, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 May 2026
Attorneys offer competing descriptions of fights Attorneys for Paul and Mortensen offered competing versions of fights between the pair, with each suggesting the other party was the aggressor.
—Hannah Schoenbaum, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
At one point, Sacramento police staffed 50 officers at or around the mall to prevent fights from occuring.
—Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
In recent years, he's frequently attended UFC fights, including on April 11 in Miami.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Donald and Ivana split in 1990, following tabloid reports of infidelity and volatile fights.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Attendees reported hearing gunshots and witnessing fights, leading to panic, chaos and crowd surges, police said.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
But fights are just as integral to the Netflix show created by Lee Sung Jin, and the series’ sound team needed to do even more meticulous work building visceral senses of anger, stress, and dread that slowly swallow up the characters and steer them into making a compounding set of poor decisions.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fights
Verb
-
Despite being projected to be the first overall pick, Mendoza skipped the in-person draft in Pittsburgh to stay in Florida with his mother, who battles multiple sclerosis (MS) and is bound to a wheelchair.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
As Halsey battles addiction and Luke confronts his own darkness, their growing feelings force them to question if love is worth the risk.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Moon in Sagittarius opposes Venus in Gemini, pulling you between what feels true and what keeps things easy with others.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
4 May 2026
-
By Hadriana Lowenkron and Mark Anderson, Bloomberg The White House opposes a plan by Anthropic PBC to expand access to its Mythos AI model, an administration official said Wednesday night.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Kimi Antonelli, the 19-year-old driver for Mercedes-AMG Petronas, competes in Sprint qualifying on Saturday.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
4 May 2026
-
At the same time, theater competes with streaming services in the attention economy.—
Glenn Davis,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 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
-
This ornamental onion attracts bees and butterflies (and resists deer and rabbits, too).—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 May 2026
-
Organized in collaboration with the Miami-Dade Public Library System, the exhibition, which opened on April 3 and continues through June 25, unfolds as a traveling, evolving project that resists a single narrative.—
Miguel Sirgado,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
The game was delayed with just under six minutes on the clock after several skirmishes broke out, leading to the ejections of Seals captain Wes Berg and Toronto’s Elijah Gash.—
Ivan Carter,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 May 2026
-
The early skirmishes certainly appeared that way.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And, perhaps, his mental-health struggles, his mood swings, and the antisocial behaviors that The Dark Wizard recounts and suggests were the cost of — or maybe the reason for — his athletic prowess.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
7 May 2026
-
Yet those absences alone cannot explain the breadth of struggles threatening the Astros’ season.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Paul and Mortensen had been under investigation by both the Draper City Police Department and West Jordan Police Department regarding a series of allegations each made that the other had acted violently during altercations in February, as well as an incident that took place in 2024.—
Senior Television,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
The investigations stemmed from a series of allegations, each made that the other acted violently during a series of altercations that month.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fights. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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