as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the playful competition over who would get the new office turned into a real dogfight
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dogfight
But with their backs against the wall, the Bobcats (37-7-1) fought back and made the series a dogfight.
—
Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 May 2026
As the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers partake in a dogfight series for the right to advance to the Eastern Conference finals, the New York Knicks are back at home with their feet kicked up and taking in the action like the rest of us.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 13 May 2026
At the climax of the episode, two kingfishers sported over a stream, a dazzling dogfight of orange and blue.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
Last October, the Boston Red Sox went the distance with the Yankees in a dogfight of an American League Wild Card series.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dogfight
Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 May 2026
As the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers partake in a dogfight series for the right to advance to the Eastern Conference finals, the New York Knicks are back at home with their feet kicked up and taking in the action like the rest of us.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 13 May 2026
At the climax of the episode, two kingfishers sported over a stream, a dazzling dogfight of orange and blue.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
Last October, the Boston Red Sox went the distance with the Yankees in a dogfight of an American League Wild Card series.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dogfight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dogfight
Noun
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But when rivalry between sororities escalates and a body is found, ambition, loyalty, and sisterhood collide with deadly consequences.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
13 June 2026
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The oldest rivalry in the NFL doesn’t include a team from Green Bay.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
13 June 2026
Noun
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After several years as an orphan, Pumphrey died in a South Caroline pine forest on August 16, 1780, in what was one of the bloodiest battles of the Revolutionary War.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
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Aegon was severely injured by Aemond and Vhagar in that battle.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Noun
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The game began with an unusual pitcher's duel in this ballpark between rookie starters.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 June 2026
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One game turned grabbing the last slice of cake into a pistol duel of who could press the button at exactly the right time.—
Jordan Minor,
PC Magazine,
11 June 2026
Noun
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Measles has spread as a result of travel to international sports competitions before.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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Their visit coincides with an event marking one year to the start of the Invictus Games, the biennial sporting competition Harry founded more than a decade ago.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
Noun
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The couple also has been open about their struggle with IVF in recent years.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
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The family’s legal struggles have loomed large over the last several years, but Steven says two moments in particular stand out as the most difficult.—
Deirdre Durkan,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
Noun
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And this is all due to how AI is rapidly changing warfare.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
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The history of warfare is often measured in winners, losers, troop sizes, dollars and human casualties; but collateral damage across the animal kingdom far outlasts the final shot.—
The Los Angeles Times,
Mercury News,
18 June 2026
Noun
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And part of it is Congress' already historically slim voting margins – margins, by the way, that won't be getting any more cushion amid the gerrymandering wars.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
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Pinkas said that before the war, Iran was isolated under sanctions that choked its oil exports, dealing blows to its economy.—
Pamela Avila,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
Noun
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For now, Meloni has avoided direct confrontation, a strategy seen as both calculation and a bet that Vannacci’s momentum may fade.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 June 2026
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During the confrontation, a person pulled out a gun and fired several shots, hitting two people, according to police.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dogfight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dogfight. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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