1
as in battled
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 opposed
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 competed
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 bickered
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 resisted
to refuse to give in to
I tried to fight the temptation to eat another cookie—and lost
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 fought
Margaret moved into his battle station and fought bravely, sustaining three gunshot wounds, until the British captured the post.
—
Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 8 May 2026
As technology continues to advance, drone warfare will likely become more autonomous, more widespread, and more decisive, fundamentally altering the way battles are fought.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
He's fought orcs from horseback in Middle-earth, explored the final frontier on the Starship Enterprise, and wielded dual machine guns in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but now Karl Urban is really in the thick of it.
—James Grebey, Time, 8 May 2026
Jimmy was modeled after experimental artists like Ron Vawter, of The Wooster Group, and Frank Maya, a pioneering gay comedian — men who died young but fought to create until their last breath.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
Benjamin’s boys and girls teams both fought through adversity at the FHSAA 1A state track and field finals at Hodges Stadium at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville on Wednesday.
—Gary Curreri, Sun Sentinel, 7 May 2026
Without their leading scorer, the Lakers fought through a six-game, first-round series against the Houston Rockets, playing four of those games without Austin Reaves, who was also injured in the same game as Doncic.
—Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Despite the initial hurdles, Hale persevered in a house full of toxic haters and fought her way back from the very bottom of the pecking order to become the first Black woman to win Big Brother and the show’s America’s Favorite Player award in one fell swoop.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 6 May 2026
The Republicans fought it, and it’s died.
—Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 8 May 2026
As technology continues to advance, drone warfare will likely become more autonomous, more widespread, and more decisive, fundamentally altering the way battles are fought.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
He's fought orcs from horseback in Middle-earth, explored the final frontier on the Starship Enterprise, and wielded dual machine guns in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but now Karl Urban is really in the thick of it.
—James Grebey, Time, 8 May 2026
Jimmy was modeled after experimental artists like Ron Vawter, of The Wooster Group, and Frank Maya, a pioneering gay comedian — men who died young but fought to create until their last breath.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
Benjamin’s boys and girls teams both fought through adversity at the FHSAA 1A state track and field finals at Hodges Stadium at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville on Wednesday.
—Gary Curreri, Sun Sentinel, 7 May 2026
Without their leading scorer, the Lakers fought through a six-game, first-round series against the Houston Rockets, playing four of those games without Austin Reaves, who was also injured in the same game as Doncic.
—Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Despite the initial hurdles, Hale persevered in a house full of toxic haters and fought her way back from the very bottom of the pecking order to become the first Black woman to win Big Brother and the show’s America’s Favorite Player award in one fell swoop.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 6 May 2026
The Republicans fought it, and it’s died.
—Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fought
Verb
-
Crews battled a late-night fire Friday at the old train depot office building in Maplewood, Minnesota.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
-
Doctors and nurses became a constant presence in her life, especially as her fourth child, Travis, battled sickle cell disease, strokes and a long, uncertain recovery that once stripped him of the ability to walk or speak.—
Nancy Badertscher,
AJC.com,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Shabani argues that hardliners are not opposed to an agreement with the US, but rather want to be the ones striking the deal in order to gain influence and realign power structures within the country.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
-
At one point, Wyrick brought forward a measure to give board members more involvement in the selection process, but Scott opposed the proposal.—
Joseph Flaherty,
Arkansas Online,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
The class action represents approximately 12,000 student-athletes who have either competed in D-I tennis since March 19, 2020, or who were deemed ineligible to compete due to prize money rules.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
4 May 2026
-
Drivers who have competed for Spire include William Byron, Justin Haley and Corey LaJoie.—
Chase Jordan
May 4,
Charlotte Observer,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
The video went viral, and the two eventually bickered about it on social media later Sunday night.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
-
My parents bickered constantly, my sister was demanding and always in a conflict with them, and my grandparents would scream at each other.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Many Jewish people across the world are Zionists, and so there is a temptation, which needs to be resisted, to hold Jewish people across the world responsible for the misdeeds of Israel.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
-
Trump endorsed a series of primary challengers against GOP lawmakers who resisted his efforts to redistrict Indiana ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.—
Tiago Ventura,
Time,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
In the midst of the civil rights movement of the 1960s, TNG also combated racial discrimination in the news industry in hiring and promotion.—
Errol Salamon,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Catholic and Lutheran churches and mutual benefit societies preserved cultural heritage, combated isolation and shaped the new state’s religious culture for generations.—
Daniel Cueto-Villalobos,
The Conversation,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Baldoni’s team contended that Reynolds, the couple’s rep, and the Times made additional statements about Lively’s smear-campaign allegations.—
Victoria Bekiempis,
Vulture,
4 May 2026
-
OpenAI has contended in court papers, according to the Post, that Zilis was quietly sharing information with Musk at their expense.—
Brian Brant,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Both France and Padres manager Craig Stammen argued the call and replays seemed to clearly show the base of the ball was entirely in foul ground.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The trust has said that recognizes the need for a larger meeting space at the White House, but argued that only Congress could authorize it.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fought.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fought. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
