1
as in battles
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 opposes
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 competes
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 bickers
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 resists
to refuse to give in to
I tried to fight the temptation to eat another cookie—and lost
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in skirmishes
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
a troubled youth who got into one fight after another
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in struggles
a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective
the mayoral candidate pledged to lead a successful fight to improve the city's schools
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in altercations
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
the couple have their share of fights, but they quickly get over them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fights
Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 10 Feb. 2026
The Calpak Luka Mini Softside Carry-on feels more like a plush weekender than a spinner, and the Bagsmart Hardside Carry-on zips open clamshell-style and never fights me at TSA.
—Brandon Schultz, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2026
But while the school funding system fights inequities, the pension funding structure exacerbates them.
—John Cullerton, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
As OpenAI prepares for a potential fourth-quarter IPO and fights Elon Musk’s xAI over allegations of stealing trade secrets, CEO Sam Altman has his hands full.
—Jacqueline Munis, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
This is not because people lack discipline, but rather because their biology fights hard to return to its old set point.
—Amy J. Sheer, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2026
Prosecutors accuse Elias Rodriguez, 31, of opening fire on people leaving an event for young professionals and diplomats hosted by the American Jewish Committee, an advocacy group that fights antisemitism and supports Israel.
—Jasper Ward, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
The National Immigration Law Center fights in courts and legislatures to protect low-income immigrants, ensuring that civil rights don’t disappear simply because of where someone was born.
—Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
On the outskirts of the crowd, fights broke out between protesters and counter-protesters.
—Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026
Stephen Groves, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2026
Pavel Rodon, manager of Havana 1957, said there were fewer fights and better control last year, but the barricades in front of his restaurant also hurt business.
—Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
The House Ethics Committee, which is comprised of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans and tries to stay away from political fights, typically handles allegations involving lawmakers and their family members.
—Stephen Groves, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Cockfighting is legal in countries like Mexico, Vietnam and the Philippines, where $13 billion is wagered on fights online annually.
—Tracey McManus, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
Ongoing partisan fights in the Missouri Senate could also spell doom for numerous other pieces of legislation this year.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026
Doing so would delay response times to medical emergencies, fights, suicide attempts and fires.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2026
Most of Szalay’s fights end by decision, and neither man has ever been finished by strikes.
—Brett Appley, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
But fights were grounded around the country.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
However, fights outside the dojo or a tournament were rare for Warren’s students.
—Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 10 Feb. 2026
The Calpak Luka Mini Softside Carry-on feels more like a plush weekender than a spinner, and the Bagsmart Hardside Carry-on zips open clamshell-style and never fights me at TSA.
—Brandon Schultz, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2026
But while the school funding system fights inequities, the pension funding structure exacerbates them.
—John Cullerton, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
As OpenAI prepares for a potential fourth-quarter IPO and fights Elon Musk’s xAI over allegations of stealing trade secrets, CEO Sam Altman has his hands full.
—Jacqueline Munis, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
This is not because people lack discipline, but rather because their biology fights hard to return to its old set point.
—Amy J. Sheer, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2026
Prosecutors accuse Elias Rodriguez, 31, of opening fire on people leaving an event for young professionals and diplomats hosted by the American Jewish Committee, an advocacy group that fights antisemitism and supports Israel.
—Jasper Ward, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
The National Immigration Law Center fights in courts and legislatures to protect low-income immigrants, ensuring that civil rights don’t disappear simply because of where someone was born.
—Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
On the outskirts of the crowd, fights broke out between protesters and counter-protesters.
—Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
The House Ethics Committee, which is comprised of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans and tries to stay away from political fights, typically handles allegations involving lawmakers and their family members.
—Stephen Groves, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2026
Pavel Rodon, manager of Havana 1957, said there were fewer fights and better control last year, but the barricades in front of his restaurant also hurt business.
—Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
The House Ethics Committee, which is comprised of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans and tries to stay away from political fights, typically handles allegations involving lawmakers and their family members.
—Stephen Groves, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Cockfighting is legal in countries like Mexico, Vietnam and the Philippines, where $13 billion is wagered on fights online annually.
—Tracey McManus, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
Ongoing partisan fights in the Missouri Senate could also spell doom for numerous other pieces of legislation this year.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026
Doing so would delay response times to medical emergencies, fights, suicide attempts and fires.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2026
Most of Szalay’s fights end by decision, and neither man has ever been finished by strikes.
—Brett Appley, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
But fights were grounded around the country.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fights
Verb
-
Your self-confidence may take a hit when the Gemini moon battles Saturn.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
-
More than four years later, Sanchez still battles the emotional fallout.—
Lou Ponsi,
Oc Register,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Before that, the inspirational Moon opposes mending Chiron, stirring tender feelings around support, boundaries, and care.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Hamel is a member of the Franklin Park Defenders, a group that firmly opposes the stadium and wants a more affordable option.—
Riley Rourke,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Codex competes directly with Anthropic's Claude Code, which has seen a wave of adoption over the last year.—
Ashley Capoot,Kate Rooney,
CNBC,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Abby Winterberger competes in the halfpipe finals at Aspen in January.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The pope, played by Samora la Perdida, is a mincing oaf who bickers with Galas about the value of translating Wagner.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Toruño resists the label of activist but embraces the political nature of her work.—
Yamlek Mojica,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
-
This would not be possible in two or three dimensions, but the words are arranged in tens of thousands of them, a geometry that doggedly resists visualization.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
And while his 11 years with the Yankees were often marked with verbal skirmishes with George Steinbrenner, in 1982 the Boss showed his respect for Nettles’ baseball acumen and quiet clubhouse leadership to name him the first Yankee captain since Thurman Munson’s death in 1979.—
Bill Madden,
New York Daily News,
31 Jan. 2026
-
These were not skirmishes but full-scale conflicts, usually costing tens—sometimes hundreds—of thousands of lives.—
Robert Kagan,
The Atlantic,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Starmer faces mounting pressure from Labor MPs over his judgment, with his premiership now in jeopardy amid broader government struggles and poor polling.—
Jill Lawless,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The 2025 August slide from the Padre with the biggest contract was especially unfortunate as the Padres (16-12 in August) were unable to fully capitalize on the Dodgers’ struggles (15-13 in August) to overtake them in the NL West.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The lawsuit claims that Metcalf had a history of being involved in altercations and alleges that Ford Field should have known about Metcalf's history and failed to protect Kennedy.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Clark warned him against becoming involved in any physical altercations.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fights. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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