as in fighting
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in competing
to engage in a contest
the two teams, which have long been archrivals, will battle on the court for the state championship
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in facing
to enter into contest or conflict with
the two top-seeded tennis players battled each other for almost three hours
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in combating
to oppose (someone) in physical conflict
the two armies battled each other for control of the bridge
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in opposing
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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Recent Examples of battling
CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
Mali, alongside neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso, has long been battling armed groups affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, a fight that has escalated over the past decade.
—ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026
While the parties are busy battling each other through gerrymandering and social media feuds, Americans are losing their patience.
—Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 25 Apr. 2026
Firefighters have been battling more than 150 wildfires in Georgia and Florida that have sent smoky haze into places far from the flames, triggering air quality warnings for some cities.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Two years on and West Ham are battling against relegation to the Championship.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
The play follows a fiercely competitive group of real estate agents battling for survival in a ruthless sales contest.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2026
During construction, Black men shoveled mud through malarial swamps, while battling snakes and alligators in intense heat.
—Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
OpenAI and Anthropic are battling for supremacy in the market for large language models.
—Lola Murti, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
Mali, alongside neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso, has long been battling armed groups affiliated with al Qaeda and the Islamic State group, a fight that has escalated over the past decade.
—CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
Mali, alongside neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso, has long been battling armed groups affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, a fight that has escalated over the past decade.
—ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026
While the parties are busy battling each other through gerrymandering and social media feuds, Americans are losing their patience.
—Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 25 Apr. 2026
Firefighters have been battling more than 150 wildfires in Georgia and Florida that have sent smoky haze into places far from the flames, triggering air quality warnings for some cities.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Two years on and West Ham are battling against relegation to the Championship.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
The play follows a fiercely competitive group of real estate agents battling for survival in a ruthless sales contest.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2026
During construction, Black men shoveled mud through malarial swamps, while battling snakes and alligators in intense heat.
—Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
OpenAI and Anthropic are battling for supremacy in the market for large language models.
—Lola Murti, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for battling
Adjective
-
Speaking ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Johnson told the BBC that the troops should be sent to peaceful regions in non-fighting roles.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Feb. 2026
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But this story isn’t just for pro-fighting fans.—
Victoria Moorwood,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But after years of competing for a full gambling license, the operation has all the hallmarks of a Las Vegas-style casino.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The storytelling is wonky, given the film’s competing needs to be Miranda-blunt about the modern magazine business while pairing marvelously with a glass of rosé.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That would bring the global total of people facing food insecurity to 363 million, the highest level on record.—
Mae Anderson,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
Climate tech startups are turning to AI as the solution for more problems facing the US clean power sector.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The organization, whose core mission is combating political extremism, argues fiscal crises historically create the conditions for radical political actors to gain traction.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
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As part of the settlement, Purdue itself would cease to exist and be replaced by a new company, Knoa Pharma, with a board appointed by the states and an aim of combating the opioid crisis.—
Geoff Mulvihill,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The two countries have backed opposing forces in Yemen and are competing economically.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The legislation passed with broad bipartisan support in the Senate, but some Republicans rejected the bill, opposing earmarking millions more to maintain the fortified Capitol and equip it with the staff necessary to keep the screenings going.—
Caroline Cummings,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Talma, a 6-foot, 175-pounder has track speed and is part of the Hornets state-championship contending 400-meter relay team.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
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Fighting between Cambodia and Thailand flared twice last year over contending claims to territory along their shared border.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Across New York, students are already encountering hate.—
Samantha Hirsch,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
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Something that really drove me nuts in art history was encountering people who felt like what their job was to exercise taste.—
Lilyanna D'Amato,
ARTnews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Nevertheless, the state’s governor, attorney general and legislative leaders were meeting to discuss how the state would respond.—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Originally launched in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood, The Longest Table has become a national movement, designed to get neighbors talking to each other and meeting new friends.—
Connie Ogle
April 30,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Battling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/battling. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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