1
as in fight
a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective
passing the medical licensing exam was an uphill battle, but she succeeded
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in skirmish
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
a battle between rival gangs left two people lying dead on the street
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in field
active fighting during the course of a war
soldiers who desperately wanted to forget the horrors that they had witnessed in battle
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4
as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the chess game was a real battle between two of the world's best players
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
3
as in to fight
to oppose (someone) in physical conflict
the two armies battled each other for control of the bridge
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to oppose
to strive to reduce or eliminate
we must battle hunger and poverty wherever they exist
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of battle
Paul Taylor, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025
Advertisement The three professors waged a legal battle against The Times for more than two years to muzzle the report by the Hueston Hennigan law firm.
—Alexis Timko, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025
Antonio Morales, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
News of the Griffith Fire comes as firefighters continue to battle the Palisades Fire, which is at 59 percent containment, and the Eaton Fire, which is 87 percent contained.
—Kimberly Nordyke, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for battle 
Noun
In recent years, games against Southampton would have been relegation battles but, after taking 19 points from a possible 21 in the Premier League, the underdog status that Forest held for two consecutive seasons has long been erased.
—Paul Taylor, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025
Advertisement The three professors waged a legal battle against The Times for more than two years to muzzle the report by the Hueston Hennigan law firm.
—Alexis Timko, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025
Verb
Coaches across the country could comfortably analyze such decisions with the benefit of hindsight while Freeman and Ryan Day battled for a ring.
—Antonio Morales, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
News of the Griffith Fire comes as firefighters continue to battle the Palisades Fire, which is at 59 percent containment, and the Eaton Fire, which is 87 percent contained.
—Kimberly Nordyke, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for battle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for battle
Noun
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The Rancho Santa Fe School District is leading an effort to support members of the Los Angeles community impacted by the devastating wildfires, and the local heroes from Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District who have been deployed to help in the fight.—
Karen Billing,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Jan. 2025
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Bobby Templin — whose hand was fractured in prison two years ago — admitted Tuesday afternoon to hitting a correctional officer during a January 2023 fight at the Idaho State Correctional Center.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Navigating the map from an overworld view, akin to looking at a tabletop game from above, leads to quicker, bite-sized skirmishes, optional short objectives, and requests from characters that build up your bonds.—
Diego Argüello,
Rolling Stone,
13 Jan. 2025
-
There’s usually not even time for trash talk between opponents; that has to wait for the inevitable post-whistle skirmish.—
Mark Lazerus,
The Athletic,
9 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Whether Counsell’s comfort level leads to significant improvement on the field will be one of the narratives to monitor in 2025.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Jan. 2025
-
Grill went 7-for-10 from the field (3-of-5 from 3).—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
19 Jan. 2025
Noun
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But Kendrick did not have to straddle a white-hot rivalry like Velazquez.—
Matt Baker,
The Athletic,
19 Jan. 2025
-
While opposed by every government in the region, ISIS-K has exploited insecurity and international rivalries to entrench itself as one of the world's deadliest and most unpredictable non-state actors in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
19 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The fifth installment in the Hunger Games movie franchise will take viewers to Panem for the 50th annual games, where Haymitch Abernathy — Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence)'s future mentor in the original films — must compete.—
Samantha Stutsman,
People.com,
25 Jan. 2025
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This is a roster that should have the pieces to compete right away, depending on what Mougey does at quarterback and in filling some other holes — but the more important task will be building something sustainable beyond this year.—
Zack Rosenblatt,
The Athletic,
25 Jan. 2025
Verb
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But its road to the screen faced immediate challenges.—
Shirley Halperin,
The Hollywood Reporter,
28 Jan. 2025
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In combating the Vela project, Bothwell has linked with like-minded organizations across the state facing similar struggles, such as Wake Up California and Livable California.—
Steven Mihailovich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Educators have long relied on Holocaust curricula to combat antisemitism.—
Mark Treyger,
New York Daily News,
27 Jan. 2025
-
Emhoff’s portfolio as the first Second Gentleman included representing the U.S. at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and numerous other diplomatic events, and leading the administration’s work combatting antisemitism.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The city is opposed to the construction of the West Austin Business Park, saying it was not authorized by the city and goes against the development plan the city and the landowner, Wheelock Communities, had agreed to in 2015.—
Rachel Royster,
Austin American-Statesman,
19 Jan. 2025
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In the Senate, 79 members voted in favor of the measure, while 18 opposed and three abstained.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
19 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Battle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/battle. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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