1
as in competed
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
Relevance
2
3
as in fought
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 opposed
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 battled
Following services, the remaining king cakes were taken to the local firehouse and shared with the first responders who battled the fire.
—
Lindsay Baach Friedmann, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
That's where the Jalisco Cartel New Generation has battled disparate armed criminal groups for control of smuggling routes.
—Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Similar to her character, who battled with alcoholism and emotional issues, the Pennsylvania native's internal struggles slowly began surfacing publicly.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
The Panthers have battled against the best in Texas since their last state title in 2008, but have fallen just short in an effort to reclaim the throne.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Feb. 2026
Manuel Moroun, who bought the Ambassador Bridge in 1979, had battled with the Canadian government to prevent it from building a second bridge.
—Vjosa Isai, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Power in the area was cut by United Illuminating while firefighters battled the blaze and was later restored.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026
One person was found dead in an apartment when crews battled an early-morning fire in West Price Hill high-rise building.
—Cheryl Vari, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 Feb. 2026
India also battled through nagging injuries that sapped his effectiveness.
—Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026
Lindsay Baach Friedmann, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
That's where the Jalisco Cartel New Generation has battled disparate armed criminal groups for control of smuggling routes.
—Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Similar to her character, who battled with alcoholism and emotional issues, the Pennsylvania native's internal struggles slowly began surfacing publicly.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
The Panthers have battled against the best in Texas since their last state title in 2008, but have fallen just short in an effort to reclaim the throne.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Feb. 2026
Manuel Moroun, who bought the Ambassador Bridge in 1979, had battled with the Canadian government to prevent it from building a second bridge.
—Vjosa Isai, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Power in the area was cut by United Illuminating while firefighters battled the blaze and was later restored.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026
One person was found dead in an apartment when crews battled an early-morning fire in West Price Hill high-rise building.
—Cheryl Vari, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 Feb. 2026
India also battled through nagging injuries that sapped his effectiveness.
—Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for battled
Verb
-
Women have never competed in Nordic combined at the Olympics.—
Rebecca Tauber,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Hayden, meanwhile, has competed well throughout her rookie season.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The secretary has faced pressure from Democrats and Republicans after Renee Good and Alex Pretti were shot dead during an immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota.—
Ryan Mancini,
The Hill,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Had they been convicted, the two immigrants would have faced years in federal prison.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Last year, the budget process went into overtime as the two chambers fought over sales taxes and clashed with DeSantis.—
Jeffrey Schweers,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
-
For the next three years, American forces—including approximately 10,000 American Indian soldiers—along with troops from 15 other nations, fought to prevent a Communist takeover.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Palestinian Authority wants to govern both territories ahead of eventual statehood, something to which Israel is adamantly opposed.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Bowden and three other physicians sued doctors, medical boards and the Federation of State Medical Boards, accusing them of conspiring to punish doctors who opposed COVID-19 vaccine mandates and treatments that did not adhere to medical boards’ guidelines.—
Evan MacDonald,
Houston Chronicle,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But multiple former offensive linemen contended Campbell’s Super Bowl struggles were not due to his arms.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Defense lawyers Brian Klein and Axel contended in court filings that Puig, who is from Cuba, was confused because of his language barrier and a dual diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The city’s own data shows that last year, only about 3% of people encountered during encampment sweeps accepted a shelter bed for even a single night, and not one was connected to permanent housing.—
Jeffrey Ginsburg,
New York Daily News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The first units on scene encountered heavy fire conditions and flames coming through the roof, fire officials said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This phrase was born on social media and its effects can be combatted with intervention from parents.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
20 Dec. 2025
-
Pureval countered that the city leadership combatted crime through numerous measures, including implementing a stricter curfew and recruiting more officers.—
Scott Wartman,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The excitement is real — the first time Pastrana raced in the Daytona 500.—
Ryan Morik Fox News,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Inside an Irving Park bungalow, kids raced barefoot through the dining room, zooming past paper chains taped to the ceiling.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Battled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/battled. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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