1
as in to fight
to oppose (someone) in physical conflict
a general eager to combat the enemy on his own ground
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to oppose
to strive to reduce or eliminate
must marshal all of our resources to combat this disease
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in field
active fighting during the course of a war
a soldier who served throughout the war without actually seeing combat
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in skirmish
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
the two stags entered a furious combat for dominance of the herd
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in battle
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the fierce ideological combat between the religionists and the secularists
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of combat
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
2 July 2026
Use natural brighteners like vinegar, lemon juice, or sunlight to combat yellowing and dullness.
—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
1 July 2026
Kocha Olarn,
CNN Money,
1 July 2026
More than 20 years after Call of Duty first put players into virtual combat boots, part of the franchise’s identity now lives in helping some of the people who wore the real thing find their next chapter.
—
Greg Engle,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for combat
Verb
To combat anti-AI sentiment and try to encourage the American public to embrace AI, OpenAI has suggested that the US create a sovereign wealth fund similar to the Alaska Permanent Fund.
—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
2 July 2026
Use natural brighteners like vinegar, lemon juice, or sunlight to combat yellowing and dullness.
—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
1 July 2026
Noun
As the book published, the two wanted to know the fates of some of the US pilots lost in combat in Thailand, including McKinney.
—
Kocha Olarn,
CNN Money,
1 July 2026
More than 20 years after Call of Duty first put players into virtual combat boots, part of the franchise’s identity now lives in helping some of the people who wore the real thing find their next chapter.
—
Greg Engle,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for combat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combat
Verb
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Two firefighters died from injures sustained while fighting the blaze.
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The action is set in the 1750s with Washington as a young man eager to fight, initially as a British officer in a period of complex loyalties.
Verb
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As singers took opposing sides, Jones told the MTV crew to stop filming.
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Some left-leaning policy organizations also oppose the charges.
Noun
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Unlike traditional sports chants, Jama blends music, rhythm and movement into an expression of community that exists well beyond the soccer field.
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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.
Noun
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While the war ended years before, the hostility spread from the stands — with skirmishes among supporters — into the field, when Maradona tricked the referee and the world with the World Cup’s most infamous goal, punching the ball into the net with his fist above England’s goalie Peter Shilton.
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Continue reading … — Two arrested as skirmishes erupt outside courthouse after Karmelo Anthony verdict.
Noun
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Riff argued the issue to halt the payout was not a legal battle but rather a political one.
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While the first half of the match was full of battles and speed runs from one goal to another, the players seem to be taking a more methodical pace after returning from the locker room.
Noun
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The British Army also provided protection from attacks by Native American tribes, giving many settlers little reason to support a rebellion.
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Twice in recent days, the United States has launched retaliatory strikes on Iran following drone attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Noun
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But Kubo hasn’t played since suffering a meniscus tear in Japan’s opener against the Netherlands, and yesterday he was ruled out for the Brazil clash.
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At the heart of the clash is how to manage wild horse populations that can reproduce at a rapid clip.
Noun
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The Pride and Angel City have established a fierce rivalry in their short history.
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Spain and Portugal renew their historic rivalry, with Lamine Yamal and Cristiano Ronaldo in contrasting lights.
Cite this Entry
“Combat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combat. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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