pitched battle
noun
: an intensely fought battle in which the opposing forces are locked in close combat
Examples of pitched battle in a Sentence
She has been in a pitched battle with her ex-husband over custody of their children.
Recent Examples on the Web
Over the weekend, pitched battles occured along Venezuela’s borders with Colombia and Brazil, as forces loyal to Maduro blocked humanitarian convoys from entering their country.
—
Ivan Briscoe, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2019
Only a few years ago, by contrast, the chief threat was not just irregular terrorism but also rocket and sniper attacks, kidnappings, drive-by shootings, and pitched battles in the streets.
—Antony J. Blinken, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2012
Parents and teachers on hand for the first day of school said the program was a welcome creation, allowing children to have a semblance of a normal education and social interaction with other students, even as Russian and Ukrainian troops fight pitched battles in the region.
—Heidi Levine, Washington Post, 5 Sep. 2023
The history of Hollywood is, if nothing else, a 100 Years’ War between corporate interests and creative instincts, and that pitched battle, for all its lamentable casualties, has produced the most influential cultural economy on Earth.
—Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2023
See all Example Sentences for pitched battle 
Ivan Briscoe, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2019
Only a few years ago, by contrast, the chief threat was not just irregular terrorism but also rocket and sniper attacks, kidnappings, drive-by shootings, and pitched battles in the streets.
—Antony J. Blinken, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2012
Parents and teachers on hand for the first day of school said the program was a welcome creation, allowing children to have a semblance of a normal education and social interaction with other students, even as Russian and Ukrainian troops fight pitched battles in the region.
—Heidi Levine, Washington Post, 5 Sep. 2023
The history of Hollywood is, if nothing else, a 100 Years’ War between corporate interests and creative instincts, and that pitched battle, for all its lamentable casualties, has produced the most influential cultural economy on Earth.
—Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2023
See all Example Sentences for pitched battle
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pitched battle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Pitched battle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pitched%20battle. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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