1
as in combating
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 opposing
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 competing
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 bickering
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 resisting
to refuse to give in to
I tried to fight the temptation to eat another cookie—and lost
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in battling
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in combat
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 fighting
Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2023
But the computer model couldn’t distinguish fighting roosters from non-fighting roosters.
—Jeff Horwitz, WSJ, 17 Oct. 2021
Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
But Mike, who has retained his fighting energy, wants this do-over as a kind of life metaphor.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
There are real dangers to being the only one fighting for a relationship.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 19 Sep. 2025
Cambodia and Thailand - Leaders of the two countries agreed to a ceasefire on July 28 after five deadly days of fighting, Reuters reported.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
Originally bred as a fighting dog, the AKC says responsible breeders now produce sweet-natured, extremely loyal and family-oriented dogs, but advises that their fighting instinct still lies within, and the breed may not do well at dog parks or as part of a home with multiple male dogs.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
On May 10, the fourth day of fighting, a press conference was scheduled in Delhi to announce a cease-fire.
—Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025
Seconds matter in a shooting, and two students from Evergreen High School are in the hospital fighting for their lives.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 17 Sep. 2025
Rakhine, bordering Bangladesh, has seen intense fighting for months between the military and the Arakan Army, which seeks greater autonomy for the coastal province.
—Reuters, NBC news, 16 Sep. 2025
James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Bochy acknowledged that the Rangers face an uphill climb to the playoffs but said the team would not stop fighting.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Sep. 2025
When layoffs and dividend cuts followed, Intel chose not to pivot but to lobby Washington—fighting efforts to restrict China investments, and, as Politico exposed, leveraging Treasury connections at the highest levels.
—Andrew King, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2025
The party in power at the White House typically loses congressional seats during campaign years when there's no presidential race, leaving Trump fighting an uphill battle to protect his congressional majorities and secure more second-term wins.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
Everyone's kind of fighting through life and in new relationships and new friendships and everything like that.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2025
Proctor also investigated the Walshe case and other criminal cases in Norfolk County and those defense attorneys are fighting to get information from Proctor’s phone backup archives that could exonerate their clients.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
The founders of Ssense have won round one in their battle with their creditors, allowing the company to remain in the hands of chief executive officer Rami Atallah and his brothers Firas and Bassel, who are fighting to remain in business and restructure the company’s operations.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 13 Sep. 2025
Richardson and Jackson have not had the best seasons, but both are still fighting strong.
—Katelyn Hutchison, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
Some had joined Ukrainian combat units as volunteers, while others have sought to assist the Ukrainian people in non-fighting capacities.
—Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2023
But the computer model couldn’t distinguish fighting roosters from non-fighting roosters.
—Jeff Horwitz, WSJ, 17 Oct. 2021
Adjective
Among the tanks, fighting vehicles, and armored carriers displayed at Victory Park in Moscow as examples of the United States’ military fallibility was a Bradley.
—Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
But Mike, who has retained his fighting energy, wants this do-over as a kind of life metaphor.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
There are real dangers to being the only one fighting for a relationship.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 19 Sep. 2025
Cambodia and Thailand - Leaders of the two countries agreed to a ceasefire on July 28 after five deadly days of fighting, Reuters reported.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
Originally bred as a fighting dog, the AKC says responsible breeders now produce sweet-natured, extremely loyal and family-oriented dogs, but advises that their fighting instinct still lies within, and the breed may not do well at dog parks or as part of a home with multiple male dogs.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
On May 10, the fourth day of fighting, a press conference was scheduled in Delhi to announce a cease-fire.
—Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025
Seconds matter in a shooting, and two students from Evergreen High School are in the hospital fighting for their lives.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 17 Sep. 2025
Rakhine, bordering Bangladesh, has seen intense fighting for months between the military and the Arakan Army, which seeks greater autonomy for the coastal province.
—Reuters, NBC news, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
Despite being hit with a multitude of injuries, the 49ers have showcased some huge grit, fighting their way to a 2-0 record heading into the Cardinals matcup.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Bochy acknowledged that the Rangers face an uphill climb to the playoffs but said the team would not stop fighting.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Sep. 2025
When layoffs and dividend cuts followed, Intel chose not to pivot but to lobby Washington—fighting efforts to restrict China investments, and, as Politico exposed, leveraging Treasury connections at the highest levels.
—Andrew King, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2025
The party in power at the White House typically loses congressional seats during campaign years when there's no presidential race, leaving Trump fighting an uphill battle to protect his congressional majorities and secure more second-term wins.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
Everyone's kind of fighting through life and in new relationships and new friendships and everything like that.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2025
Proctor also investigated the Walshe case and other criminal cases in Norfolk County and those defense attorneys are fighting to get information from Proctor’s phone backup archives that could exonerate their clients.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
The founders of Ssense have won round one in their battle with their creditors, allowing the company to remain in the hands of chief executive officer Rami Atallah and his brothers Firas and Bassel, who are fighting to remain in business and restructure the company’s operations.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 13 Sep. 2025
Richardson and Jackson have not had the best seasons, but both are still fighting strong.
—Katelyn Hutchison, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fighting
Verb
-
Schweers openly shared her journey battling multiple sclerosis and infertility to her online community, documenting the highs, the lows, everything.—
Essence,
Essence,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The dedicated group of fathers recently held a fundraiser for a teacher who was battling cancer.—
Lou Ponsi,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In the public square, opposing views aren't debated—they're flagged or muted.—
Curt Steinhorst,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The Florida Department of Education argued that HB 1069 is protected by Florida’s First Amendment right of government speech, a legal theory that the government has the right to prevent any opposing views to its own in schools or any government platform.—
James B. Blasingame,
The Conversation,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
High-skilled workers will see income growth, while low-skill workers will be competing for a decreasing number of job openings.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The show gives Islanders from previous seasons of the dating show a second shot at love while competing in challenges for a chance at winning $100,000.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Jennifer Aniston’s Alex Levy, Reese Witherspoon’s Bradley Jackson, and the other members of The Morning Show’s newsroom and its network are once again bickering and backstabbing.—
Emma Alpern,
Vulture,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Coaches are also bickering about money, a topic that would have felt out of place 10 years ago.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
She has been charged with child endangerment, resisting arrest, false identification to law enforcement and obstructing an officer among other charges, according to online court records reviewed by PEOPLE.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
17 Sep. 2025
-
This data undercuts the common fear that resisting an activist will lead to wholesale turnover of the board.—
Kai Liekefett,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The Israeli military said four of its personnel had been killed during combat in southern Gaza.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
19 Sep. 2025
-
In combat sports, those moments matter.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In turn, Sagoo filed a motion to dismiss, contending that the IRS’ administrative assessments violated the Seventh Amendment.—
Matthew L. Roberts,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokeswoman Courtney Rice agreed with Lake, contending House Democrats overperformed among Latino voters during last year’s election.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has urged Senate Democrats to support the short-term measure, arguing the bill is a clean extension of funding.—
John Parkinson,
ABC News,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Many conservative stalwarts cheered Kimmel's shelving, arguing that his recent monologue misled the American public about Kirk’s assassination by mischaracterizing the political beliefs of Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the homicide.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fighting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fighting. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share