1
as in fight
a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective
passing the medical licensing exam was an uphill battle, but she succeeded
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in skirmish
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
a battle between rival gangs left two people lying dead on the street
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in field
active fighting during the course of a war
soldiers who desperately wanted to forget the horrors that they had witnessed in battle
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the chess game was a real battle between two of the world's best players
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1
2
3
as in to fight
to oppose (someone) in physical conflict
the two armies battled each other for control of the bridge
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to oppose
to strive to reduce or eliminate
we must battle hunger and poverty wherever they exist
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of battle
Brittney Melton, NPR, 30 Apr. 2026
Today’s busy news cycle includes stories about state pension costs, refugee healthcare cuts, budget battles, and environmental violations close to home.
—The Sacramento Bee Staff, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Riley sails on, prow forward, fighting to avoid the Imagination’s unceremonious fate, not quitting, not wishing to be retired, but battling time.
—Greg Cote
april 28, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for battle
Noun
But Powell says the battle is not over yet.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 30 Apr. 2026
Today’s busy news cycle includes stories about state pension costs, refugee healthcare cuts, budget battles, and environmental violations close to home.
—The Sacramento Bee Staff, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
Conway, who previously discussed a pancreatic cancer diagnosis and being cancer-free after surgery in 2023, had reportedly been battling cancer again.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Riley sails on, prow forward, fighting to avoid the Imagination’s unceremonious fate, not quitting, not wishing to be retired, but battling time.
—Greg Cote
april 28, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for battle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for battle
Noun
-
At one point, the crew shot a scene in which Whalen’s character joins a bar fight, shouting invectives at a hapless extra before pummelling him to the ground.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Denver police on Thursday arrested a 28-year-old man who investigators said shot and killed another man in a fight near South Broadway and West Maple Avenue, department officials said in a news release.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Pittsburgh Penguins staved off elimination for the second straight game with a clutch Game 5 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night, but celebrations were briefly halted when a skirmish erupted over a controversial hit on Sidney Crosby after the final buzzer.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Walker, in a 10-pitch skirmish, drew a walk.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Johnson and McCollum combined for 31 points on 12-of-27 shooting from the field after McCollum scored 32 points on his own in Game 2.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
He was surrounded by numerous family and Braves alumni during the ceremony, which was relocated from the field to the Milner Technology Conference Center due to rain.—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In December, Chelsea’s players looked inexplicably unprepared for the intensity of this long-time rivalry and were caught out via defensive errors.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
They also are slotted to host an ACC opponent, probably the Blue Devils, and an annual rivalry game against Florida State (on the road this year).—
Mark Long,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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News round-up FIFA plans to increase prize money and participation fees for the 48 competing nations at the World Cup.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Who’s this guy competing with in this room?—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When the 2025 season ended, the Vikings faced a steep salary-cap overage.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
We are faced with a vastly more consequential version of a Catch-22.—
Fintan O’Toole,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Charles is expected to visit a grassroots community organization, Harlem Grown, which created a sustainable after-school urban farming initiative in an effort to combat food insecurity.—
Emma Caughlan,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
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The findings could help scientists trying to combat how much methane cattle emit—methane is a greenhouse gas, and the animals are one of the top agricultural sources of these emissions.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Earlier, the Moon in Libra opposes direct Mercury in Aries, so thoughts may move faster than your emotional response, making conversations feel slightly off or rushed.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Puth isn’t a flashy showman by any means, staying mostly confined to the front of the stage between two opposing keyboards.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Battle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/battle. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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