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
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Recent Examples of combat
Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
The material properties regenerate the battery by converting polysulfides into usable sulfur, directly combating the degradation plaguing Li-S batteries.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2025
New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2025
The vehicle has been combat-tested in Afghanistan and Liberia and is available in 15 variants.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combat
Verb
Mortgage rates shot up in 2022 following the Fed's aggressive rate-hiking campaign to combat inflation, and have been between 6 percent and 7 percent ever since.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
The material properties regenerate the battery by converting polysulfides into usable sulfur, directly combating the degradation plaguing Li-S batteries.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
Enlisting our innate immune systems to help us combat cancer is one of the most promising, modern ways to deal with the disease.
—New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2025
The vehicle has been combat-tested in Afghanistan and Liberia and is available in 15 variants.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combat
Verb
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How do Flock cameras help fight crime?—
Jennifer Jolly,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
-
These medications can lower the number of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that helps fight bacterial infections.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Republicans, who say school security and improving mental health services are the best way to avoid future tragedies, have firmly opposed any new gun control measures.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
20 Sep. 2025
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Some residents criticized Touchstone, Vice Mayor Joy Smith and Eveillard, who formed a three-person majority on the five-seat board, for supporting a $30,000 raise for themselves while opposing an up-to 5% raise for city staff based on cost of living and merit.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Matthews immediately went down and stayed on the field as medical staff rushed to the field.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
21 Sep. 2025
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The Commanders are hoping to get back on the field soon, but changes are needed.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Regions of Africa and Southern Asia are embroiled in deadly and underreported skirmishes, and areas of Mexico and Haiti are torn by gang violence akin to civil war.—
Daniella Walsh,
Oc Register,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Delhi sees Beijing as its biggest threat, particularly since some border skirmishes that began in 2020.—
Thomas Wright,
The Atlantic,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Republicans were unfazed by Democrats threatening to withhold their votes, accusing them of hypocrisy for condemning GOP efforts to win policy concessions in past funding battles.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The iconic items fit well in this book given how many Avengers don’t feel complete without a gadget or mystical item to carry into battle.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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And now Google warns that Chrome is under attack, issuing an emergency update and a recommendation to upgrade all desktop browsers immediately.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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Ukrainian defense forces took down the 230-foot (70 meters) antenna dish to prevent Russian forces from using it to guide attacks on its territory.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The real clash with liberals is not over how big government should be, but over what the state should be empowered to do.—
Allan J. Lichtman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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Their violent clash of characters in the Marvel series, which has been a solid performer on Disney+, underpinned the original Netflix action series.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Those games include matchups versus the NFC North, AFC North divisional rivalry games versus the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers as well as a late season road showdown against the Buffalo Bills.—
Kambui Bomani,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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The Studio beat The Bear for the most wins for a comedy series in a single year, while The Pitt reigned supreme in its rivalry with Severance and Britt Lower pulled an upset in Lead Actress in a Drama over Kathy Bates.—
Vulture Staff,
Vulture,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Combat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combat. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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