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
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
Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Days later, then-Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley announced a campaign challenging the former governor as the GOP fights to keep the Senate seat red.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 8 Sep. 2025
Even ordinary encounters are sharper and more aggressive, while boss fights push you to your breaking point.
—Keller Gordon, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025
Partnering with John, Makalya fights to keep the community alive as modern society unravels, offering both medical expertise and emotional resilience in the face of collapse.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2025
Sunday's race could deliver fireworks as Verstappen fights hard to stay ahead of both McLaren cars.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
With a mission to rebuild abundant and biodiverse oceans, Oceana fights to stop overfishing, habitat destruction, oil and plastic pollution, as well as the killing of threatened species like turtles, whales, and sharks, among other causes.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
Four months ago when the Suns’ season concluded, Ishbia discussed the value of having a gritty, resilient group that fights hard defensively for the entire game, not just in flashes.
—Shane Young, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
There were crash outs, blowups, fights over pancakes and some messy breakups.
—Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Trump has attended several other high-profile sporting events in 2025, including Super Bowl LIX, the Daytona 500, and multiple UFC fights.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
The mixed martial arts pioneer is well-known for his impressive and dominant exploits during brutal professional fights.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Sep. 2025
Two additional title fights take place on the boxing card.
—Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
The fights encouraged improvisation, with Bond shooting guns and throwing them (and other objects in the environment) at enemies.
—Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
The bucks know there will be fights over the females.
—Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 30 Aug. 2025
Paul is roughly 60 pounds heavier than Davis, with six weight classes separating the two from each of their last fights.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2025
There was a big frat party happening across the street, so there were a couple of fights.
—Pat Blashill, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
Under a new deal with CBS and Paramount+, UFC fights will be available for all subscribers.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Days later, then-Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley announced a campaign challenging the former governor as the GOP fights to keep the Senate seat red.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 8 Sep. 2025
Even ordinary encounters are sharper and more aggressive, while boss fights push you to your breaking point.
—Keller Gordon, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025
Partnering with John, Makalya fights to keep the community alive as modern society unravels, offering both medical expertise and emotional resilience in the face of collapse.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2025
Sunday's race could deliver fireworks as Verstappen fights hard to stay ahead of both McLaren cars.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
With a mission to rebuild abundant and biodiverse oceans, Oceana fights to stop overfishing, habitat destruction, oil and plastic pollution, as well as the killing of threatened species like turtles, whales, and sharks, among other causes.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
Four months ago when the Suns’ season concluded, Ishbia discussed the value of having a gritty, resilient group that fights hard defensively for the entire game, not just in flashes.
—Shane Young, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
There were crash outs, blowups, fights over pancakes and some messy breakups.
—Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Noun
But Republicans’ long-running internal fights over how to handle health insurance coverage are far from settled, and party leaders are not eager to take a firm stance.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Trump has attended several other high-profile sporting events in 2025, including Super Bowl LIX, the Daytona 500, and multiple UFC fights.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
The mixed martial arts pioneer is well-known for his impressive and dominant exploits during brutal professional fights.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Sep. 2025
Two additional title fights take place on the boxing card.
—Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
The fights encouraged improvisation, with Bond shooting guns and throwing them (and other objects in the environment) at enemies.
—Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
The bucks know there will be fights over the females.
—Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 30 Aug. 2025
Paul is roughly 60 pounds heavier than Davis, with six weight classes separating the two from each of their last fights.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2025
There was a big frat party happening across the street, so there were a couple of fights.
—Pat Blashill, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fights
Verb
-
Many of the amendments are likely to spark infighting among Republicans as the party battles over whether to become more isolationist in the face of skepticism about assisting foreign countries.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Bateman's character, Vince Friedken, battles a gambling addiction in a trailer for the crime thriller, as Law's Jake Friedken celebrates the growing success of his buzzy establishment.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The administration counters that the injunction forces the executive branch to take steps that undermine its own policy, including negotiating with foreign governments over funds the president opposes and sending contradictory signals to Congress.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Kelley is chastised and eventually replaced by Gustave Gilbert (Colin Hanks), a rival psychologist with a different take, one that opposes Kelley’s more humanistic approach in defining the horrors of that time.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Pacific Coast Harmony also competes against other groups in the region and most recently successfully defended its Eastern Division Chorus title in the Barbershop Harmony Society’s Far Western District.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Many of those carriers have big global networks to serve customers, as well as a basic economy, no-frills product that competes with Spirit and other low-cost airlines.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But Enyedi resists such big words.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Empowering risk-takers in an industry that resists change AWSOM is Walton’s third major construction project, and it was completed in two years and almost 50% under its (undisclosed) budget.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Meanwhile, Desmond Castle stands watch beyond the village park—its stone battlements and arrow slits recalling Norman skirmishes and feudal lords.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
-
Of all the conflicts Trump has involved himself in since returning to the White House, the skirmishes over a colonial-era border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia may be the smallest.—
Matthew Tostevin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Before welcoming William, the couple endured a six-year-long road to parenthood that included health issues for each of them in addition to their fertility struggles.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Fall in Michigan means less and less daylight as the season goes on and for many that signals the start of seasonal mental health struggles, though coping strategies can help, experts say.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Estelle said there appeared to be at least five fights, and because there were so many altercations in one evening numerous people were detained during the football game.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Sep. 2025
-
The trend has resulted in several fatal altercations in recent years.—
Jenna Sundel
Jason Lemon,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Lately Rigel has seen big sales increases for a few of its drugs, notably Tavelisse, which combats a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks its own blood platelets.—
John Dorfman,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
-
Ant International claims the platform combats hallucinations and other data risks by using over 100 recognition models and 600,000 risk lexicons.—
Lionel Lim,
Fortune,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fights. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share