battle 1 of 2

Definition of battlenext
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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

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battle

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verb

1
as in to compete
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 to face
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

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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 battle
Noun
Looking ahead, Gatere sees a future where ensuring women's safety, dignity and inclusion in the industry is no longer a constant battle, allowing more of them to focus on bigger ambitions. Christopher Clark, NPR, 5 July 2026 The one-time fading mural was saved from destruction after a nine-year battle by local residents, civic leaders, businesses and governmental agencies, who celebrated its restoration in 2023. Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
Verb
Nilsson battled end-stage kidney disease for more than four years and received dialysis three days a week, according to a family post on his Facebook page. Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 3 July 2026 One of the fund’s first recipients, a man in Colorado whose wife is battling the disease, found Busch through her Substack. Sydney Lake, Fortune, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for battle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for battle
Noun
  • What is clear is that centrist Democrats haven’t mounted much of a fight.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • Railing against a new crop of progressive candidates has emerged as a more animating focus for a president who thrills to a fight.
    Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Noun
  • The skirmishes date back to shortly after Haaland’s arrival at Manchester City in July 2022.
    Jack Lang, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham’s point toward Phoenix Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner amid a heated skirmish during their game has gone mega viral.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
Noun
  • Unlike traditional sports chants, Jama blends music, rhythm and movement into an expression of community that exists well beyond the soccer field.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026
  • The referee on the field, Raphael Claus, has previously been investigated for match fixing in Brazil, though of course, there's no indication that this was a motivating factor in this case.
    Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • The Pride and Angel City have established a fierce rivalry in their short history.
    Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 July 2026
  • Spain and Portugal renew their historic rivalry, with Lamine Yamal and Cristiano Ronaldo in contrasting lights.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • The tension between the various competing interests is handled with nuance and without taking sides, all while showing both the pitfalls and the wondrous potential of this annual spectacle.
    Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • There are two possible, competing ways in which dust can affect the Alfvén waves, which in turn could determine how energy is dumped into the corona, heating it.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 7 July 2026
Verb
  • But the court also said the people facing deportation must pursue their cases individually where they are being held, under what are called habeas petitions, rather than collectively, under what is called a class action.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • The University of California Health system and Cigna, facing a July 1 deadline to reach a new contract covering a large group of Sacramento-area patients, have agreed to an extension to allow more time for negotiations.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • In a press release, Bonta reiterated his commitment to combating hate in California, and said the data obtained are accessible and critical to stopping such crimes in the state.
    Jazmin Alvarado, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • Sourcing executives face a dual challenge—leveraging AI to combat rising tariffs and geopolitical shipping disruptions while also navigating a shifting, high-stakes regulatory compliance environment.
    Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • As singers took opposing sides, Jones told the MTV crew to stop filming.
    Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 3 July 2026
  • Some left-leaning policy organizations also oppose the charges.
    Geoff Mulvihill, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Battle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/battle. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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