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
Colleen Kratofil, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
The 31-year-old McKee (24-2), who fights out of Long Beach, continues his pursuit to reclaim his place atop the 145-pound division.
—Brian Martin, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Years later, as Ukraine fights a war to defend its democracy — to preserve a state where institutions serve the people rather than dictators, where the press remains independent, and where citizens can shape the politics around them — the contrast between the two countries is striking.
—Nataliya Gumenyuk, The Dial, 21 Apr. 2026
And a Japanese eatery fights to avoid price hikes.
—Andrew Dunn, Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026
These fights often concern cuisines that rarely see the spotlight.
—Jamie Feldmar, Saveur, 15 Apr. 2026
As the Democratic Party fights to regain control of Congress, organizations affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence have dominated the airwaves, sometimes leaving candidates on the sidelines of their own campaigns.
—Leah Askarinam, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Set in the last year of World War II on the remote North Sea island of Amrum, the story is told from the point of view of 12-year-old Nanning (Jasper Billerbeck), whose zealot mother (Laura Tonke) is raising him as a good Nazi while his father fights in the war.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 8 Apr. 2026
Continue reading … FISTS FLY — Angels slugger fights former teammates in wild brawl following inside pitch.
—FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
But fights are just as integral to the Netflix show created by Lee Sung Jin, and the series’ sound team needed to do even more meticulous work building visceral senses of anger, stress, and dread that slowly swallow up the characters and steer them into making a compounding set of poor decisions.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026
The park's 120th operating season, which kicked off April 3, was marred by several fights between groups of teens, culminating in three arrests.
—Drew Pittock, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
Those fights faded once governments began delineating specific zones where such projects were allowed and impacts could be minimized.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Several fights between a group of teenagers led to the arrests of three individuals and the removal of multiple park guests on the night of the park's reopening, local news outlet WGAL8 reported, citing police.
—Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
One day after the fights, a toddler managed to crawl under a fence at Hersheypark's ZooAmerica and stick his hand into the wolf enclosure while his parents were reportedly distracted on their cell phones.
—Alexandra Simon, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Attendees pulled the fights apart, but Rico then pulled out a semi-automatic handgun and fired nine shots before fleeing, prosecutors said.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026
The boxers who are able to attract more eyeballs usually participate in bigger fights.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
Ever since, fans have been hooked to see how the friend group navigate fights big and small.
—Colleen Kratofil, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
The 31-year-old McKee (24-2), who fights out of Long Beach, continues his pursuit to reclaim his place atop the 145-pound division.
—Brian Martin, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Years later, as Ukraine fights a war to defend its democracy — to preserve a state where institutions serve the people rather than dictators, where the press remains independent, and where citizens can shape the politics around them — the contrast between the two countries is striking.
—Nataliya Gumenyuk, The Dial, 21 Apr. 2026
And a Japanese eatery fights to avoid price hikes.
—Andrew Dunn, Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026
These fights often concern cuisines that rarely see the spotlight.
—Jamie Feldmar, Saveur, 15 Apr. 2026
As the Democratic Party fights to regain control of Congress, organizations affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence have dominated the airwaves, sometimes leaving candidates on the sidelines of their own campaigns.
—Leah Askarinam, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Set in the last year of World War II on the remote North Sea island of Amrum, the story is told from the point of view of 12-year-old Nanning (Jasper Billerbeck), whose zealot mother (Laura Tonke) is raising him as a good Nazi while his father fights in the war.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 8 Apr. 2026
Continue reading … FISTS FLY — Angels slugger fights former teammates in wild brawl following inside pitch.
—FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Noun
Police also allegedly received numerous reports of fights and disturbances in different areas of the Jennings Beach grounds and parking lots.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
But fights are just as integral to the Netflix show created by Lee Sung Jin, and the series’ sound team needed to do even more meticulous work building visceral senses of anger, stress, and dread that slowly swallow up the characters and steer them into making a compounding set of poor decisions.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026
The park's 120th operating season, which kicked off April 3, was marred by several fights between groups of teens, culminating in three arrests.
—Drew Pittock, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
Those fights faded once governments began delineating specific zones where such projects were allowed and impacts could be minimized.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Several fights between a group of teenagers led to the arrests of three individuals and the removal of multiple park guests on the night of the park's reopening, local news outlet WGAL8 reported, citing police.
—Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
One day after the fights, a toddler managed to crawl under a fence at Hersheypark's ZooAmerica and stick his hand into the wolf enclosure while his parents were reportedly distracted on their cell phones.
—Alexandra Simon, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Attendees pulled the fights apart, but Rico then pulled out a semi-automatic handgun and fired nine shots before fleeing, prosecutors said.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026
The boxers who are able to attract more eyeballs usually participate in bigger fights.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fights
Verb
-
Despite being projected to be the first overall pick, Mendoza skipped the in-person draft in Pittsburgh to stay in Florida with his mother, who battles multiple sclerosis (MS) and is bound to a wheelchair.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
As Halsey battles addiction and Luke confronts his own darkness, their growing feelings force them to question if love is worth the risk.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
According to a survey conducted by Emerson College Polling in late March, a majority of Floridians — including a majority of independents — opposes mid-decade redistricting.—
Allyson Meyers,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Take the issue of AI data centers, which Fishback opposes in Florida due to their high cost of operation.—
Thomas C. Shank,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Self-driving cars are operating commercially in some cities, and a relaxing, productive commute in an autonomous car competes for the same customer an eVTOL is trying to attract.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Weaker as a blocker on the move, but competes with a mean streak.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 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
-
The book resists tidy moral conclusions.—
Andrew Silow-Carroll,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Best of all, the Tony nominee smartly resists overplaying the joke, grounding the part enough that Brad's unraveling becomes funnier.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The early skirmishes certainly appeared that way.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The skirmishes are a preview for more campaigns later this year, when at least a half-dozen states will hold elections for utility regulators.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
His personal struggles growing up with an absent dad and being a young man of color who comes from a low-income family soon take a toll on him.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Horner's mother testified last week, telling the jury about her own struggles with drugs and spending parts of Horner's childhood in jail.—
Steven Rosenbaum,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Though the large parties associated with Spring Weekend were not sanctioned by UConn, the lawsuit contended that university officials knew about the troubles and potential dangers that would ensue based, in part, on previous altercations that had occurred.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Gardner’s style of play irritated plenty of opponents along the way, too, as he was involved in a few verbal altercations throughout the season with players like Klay Thompson and Scotty Pippen Jr.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fights. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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