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
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.
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 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pitched battle was circa 1616

Dictionary Entries Near pitched battle

Cite this Entry

“Pitched battle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pitched%20battle. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

pitched battle

noun
ˈpich(t)-
: a fiercely fought battle in which the opposing forces are locked in close combat

More from Merriam-Webster on pitched battle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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