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
ABC News, 8 June 2026
Tom's Watch Bar in Navy Yard and Public Bar Live in Dupont Circle are often regarded as two of the most popular places to watch UFC fights in the city.
—Mike Stunson, USA Today, 8 June 2026
The government fights the fly by breeding sterile male flies, which then mate with wild females that mate only once in their months-long life.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
While our money would be on The Last Son of Krypton in a main card matchup, Lobo fights dirty with a level of primal savagery that just might put the Big Blue Boy Scout and his cousin down for a few rounds.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 6 June 2026
Especially women, with all those drunken servicemen rolling through, packs of them, fights spilling out of the cafés, catcalls and spitting in the streets.
—Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
She was seen in the ring for the Jahmal Harvey-Kevin Cervantes and the Paul-Anthony Joshua fights.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
The welcome is relaxed and warm while the flamboyant decor fights to charm you.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
What Is Black Lives Matter traces the history of the international movement, from its founding in the wake of Trayvon Martin’s 2012 death to its role in current day fights against police brutality.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 7 June 2026
This year, the event was more spread out in downtown Lee’s Summit, with the fights concentrated in the entrance to the festival area.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 7 June 2026
The first big takeaway in the game’s new trailer (shown below) is that the story and the world between fights will be more fleshed out.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
The young Brooks’s disciplinary problems began with fights in primary school and culminated in his expulsion from college for threatening a policeman with a firearm.
—Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
The fans loved his physicality, and his fights were often short and unanimous victories.
—Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 5 June 2026
But of more significance to the UFC is how Paramount+ dramatically reduces the friction to watch its fights.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
Still, some fights have intensified.
—ABC News, 4 June 2026
The Crete Police Department has petitioned the Will County state’s attorney’s office for charges against 20 juveniles involved in a series of fights at Crete-Monee High School on May 12, Chief Scott Pieritz said in a news release Thursday.
—Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
Verb
The government fights the fly by breeding sterile male flies, which then mate with wild females that only mate once in their monthslong life.
—ABC News, 8 June 2026
Tom's Watch Bar in Navy Yard and Public Bar Live in Dupont Circle are often regarded as two of the most popular places to watch UFC fights in the city.
—Mike Stunson, USA Today, 8 June 2026
The government fights the fly by breeding sterile male flies, which then mate with wild females that mate only once in their months-long life.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
While our money would be on The Last Son of Krypton in a main card matchup, Lobo fights dirty with a level of primal savagery that just might put the Big Blue Boy Scout and his cousin down for a few rounds.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 6 June 2026
Especially women, with all those drunken servicemen rolling through, packs of them, fights spilling out of the cafés, catcalls and spitting in the streets.
—Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
She was seen in the ring for the Jahmal Harvey-Kevin Cervantes and the Paul-Anthony Joshua fights.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
The welcome is relaxed and warm while the flamboyant decor fights to charm you.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
What Is Black Lives Matter traces the history of the international movement, from its founding in the wake of Trayvon Martin’s 2012 death to its role in current day fights against police brutality.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
Noun
Unlike so many iconic American fights, held in the halls of Congress or on the streets of major cities, this campaign is being waged for the most part in obscurity.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 7 June 2026
This year, the event was more spread out in downtown Lee’s Summit, with the fights concentrated in the entrance to the festival area.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 7 June 2026
The first big takeaway in the game’s new trailer (shown below) is that the story and the world between fights will be more fleshed out.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
The young Brooks’s disciplinary problems began with fights in primary school and culminated in his expulsion from college for threatening a policeman with a firearm.
—Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
The fans loved his physicality, and his fights were often short and unanimous victories.
—Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 5 June 2026
But of more significance to the UFC is how Paramount+ dramatically reduces the friction to watch its fights.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
Still, some fights have intensified.
—ABC News, 4 June 2026
The Crete Police Department has petitioned the Will County state’s attorney’s office for charges against 20 juveniles involved in a series of fights at Crete-Monee High School on May 12, Chief Scott Pieritz said in a news release Thursday.
—Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fights
Verb
-
Right Now As the country battles a deadly second wave, international donations are helping local communities access essential items.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 June 2026
-
Both wholesome kids get caught in the crossfire when He-Man battles Skeletor’s army of Darth Vader lookalikes in — where else?—
Jeffrey Ressner,
HollywoodReporter,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
The union opposes a cap for a long list of reasons, including an argument that player salaries would no longer be guaranteed.—
Evan Drellich,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
-
Yet this week, Saban was effectively arguing for a bill that his own conference opposes.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 June 2026
Verb
-
Sohn competes as a member of FRC Team 3182 Athena’s Warriors, a 4-H team based in Hartford.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
8 June 2026
-
The bacteria also competes against viruses for key molecules like cholesterol in the mosquito.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
4 June 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
-
There’s also a broader cultural undercurrent shaping all of this—a down-to-earth atmosphere that resists hierarchy and self-importance.—
Alli Forde,
Travel + Leisure,
8 June 2026
-
Yet Smith resists the idea that Democrats should define a future majority solely through investigations.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
One of those skirmishes, in fact, involved Childress himself, in 2011 at Kansas Speedway, when the then-65-year-old car owner for an opposing team got into a physical altercation with Busch after an on-track incident.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
6 June 2026
-
Inconspicuous blows against Denver escalated to skirmishes.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
The McDowells are far from alone in their struggles to find stable, straightforward child care.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
-
Rather than focusing on recent struggles, Mattingly pointed toward the larger body of work that made Bichette one of the American League's most productive young hitters during his years in Toronto.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Over the last few months, Taylor has been embroiled in a series of legal battles with Mortensen, first beginning in February with a pair of investigations by Utah police departments into allegations each made that the other acted violently during altercations that month.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
4 June 2026
-
Durso alleged that Valle was upset after the previous altercations and lost his cool when his friend’s vehicle was damaged by the crowd of youths who rocked and shook the vehicle Valle and his friends arrived in.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fights. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
