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
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
As the war enters its next phase, the side with the deeper arsenal may ultimately determine who fights till the end.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Mar. 2026
Fifteen years later, prosecutors charged Jones with second-degree murder, alleging rivalry and fights among teammates as possible motives.
—Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Cornyn fights to hold seat Cornyn is hoping to avoid becoming the first Republican senator in Texas history not to be renominated.
—Thomas Beaumont, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
What fights will Zuffa stage and who will show them?
—Chris McKenna, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
Everyone fights in their own way.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
There are also court fights underway.
—Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2026
Redistricting fights in these states and others could have a big impact on the upcoming midterms.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
Morgan Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Some injuries stemmed from fights between detainees, including a man who said he had been kicked in the ear and battered in his ribs.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Paul himself has headlined a number of those fights, defeating Mike Tyson in 2024, and falling to Anthony Joshua last December.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Mar. 2026
There are a few in the squad who have been in relegation fights before, and that experience could be crucial.
—Jay Harris, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2026
At her new elite school, she is drawn to James, a dangerous bully involved in clandestine MMA fights, but then begins dating his best friend, Will.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2026
After the rise of Christianity, the passages under the Hippodrome, a stadium once used for chariot races and gladiator fights, were repurposed as workshops for dyeing fabric and making pottery.
—Durrie Bouscaren, NPR, 28 Feb. 2026
The question is whether the audience and the rest of the country would be better served if more energy devoted to political fights were spent on the less glamorous, but far more consequential, task of updating communications law for the world that actually exists.
—Jay Caruso, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026
Styles make fights, but so do the stakes.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
These are intriguing threads Disco almost fights.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
As the war enters its next phase, the side with the deeper arsenal may ultimately determine who fights till the end.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Mar. 2026
Fifteen years later, prosecutors charged Jones with second-degree murder, alleging rivalry and fights among teammates as possible motives.
—Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Cornyn fights to hold seat Cornyn is hoping to avoid becoming the first Republican senator in Texas history not to be renominated.
—Thomas Beaumont, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
What fights will Zuffa stage and who will show them?
—Chris McKenna, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
Everyone fights in their own way.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
There are also court fights underway.
—Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2026
Redistricting fights in these states and others could have a big impact on the upcoming midterms.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
Noun
Some injuries stemmed from fights between detainees, including a man who said he had been kicked in the ear and battered in his ribs.
—Morgan Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Some injuries stemmed from fights between detainees, including a man who said he had been kicked in the ear and battered in his ribs.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Paul himself has headlined a number of those fights, defeating Mike Tyson in 2024, and falling to Anthony Joshua last December.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Mar. 2026
There are a few in the squad who have been in relegation fights before, and that experience could be crucial.
—Jay Harris, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2026
At her new elite school, she is drawn to James, a dangerous bully involved in clandestine MMA fights, but then begins dating his best friend, Will.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2026
After the rise of Christianity, the passages under the Hippodrome, a stadium once used for chariot races and gladiator fights, were repurposed as workshops for dyeing fabric and making pottery.
—Durrie Bouscaren, NPR, 28 Feb. 2026
The question is whether the audience and the rest of the country would be better served if more energy devoted to political fights were spent on the less glamorous, but far more consequential, task of updating communications law for the world that actually exists.
—Jay Caruso, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026
Styles make fights, but so do the stakes.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fights
Verb
-
Armed with beauty, daring, hustle, sheer force of will and unwavering ambition, Undine battles an entrenched elite, fearlessly courting controversy, until love and fortune align.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Steve Kerr has repeatedly emphasized that the team needs to be creative to find spacing around Green while Curry battles runner’s knee, and the new starting lineup brought four capable 3-point shooters onto the floor.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
China, top Iran oil buyer, opposes war Smoke rises from Israeli bombardment on the southern Lebanese village of Khiam on March 4, 2026.—
Kevin Breuninger,Sam Meredith,Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Progressive groups are vowing to mount challenges from the left to any lawmaker who opposes the war powers vote, Axios reported.—
Nicholas Wu,
semafor.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Implats, which competes with Valterra and Sibanye-Stillwater in the platinum group metals market, has a long-standing presence in Zimbabwe, having steadily built its stake in Zimplats in the early 2000s and become the dominant owner, holding more than 80% of the company.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
-
When Fritz competes on home soil, his tennis often blooms.—
Douglas Robson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 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
-
Instead, expect a traceless finish (on all skin tones), hyper fast absorption, and a bouncy base for makeup that resists pilling.—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
11 Mar. 2026
-
In Patagonia’s mountains, Adelaida, the last of a Chilean indigenous people, resists relocation as a mining project threatens her ancestral land.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The two also got into multiple skirmishes back in December during a recent Lakers-Suns game, including James knocking down Brooks after some contact from the NBA's all-time leading scorer.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Enrigue’s novel is inspired by the long-running Apache Wars of the 19th century, a series of brutal skirmishes between various Apache bands and the armies of the United States and Mexico.—
Carolina A. Miranda,
The Atlantic,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The final season focuses on Claire and Jamie’s struggles during the Revolutionary War, with the war having followed them home.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The struggles with your in-laws, the struggles with the sister-in-law.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But in a rare but potentially growing number of instances, local law enforcement officers say, frustrations on the Valley’s increasingly congested roads are escalating into threats, altercations and sometimes deadly violence.—
Rose Evans
Updated March 3,
Idaho Statesman,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Lakewood police said officers returned to the area later after receiving reports of altercations, injuries, and a growing crowd of onlookers.—
Jasmine Arenas,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fights. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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