1
as in combating
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 opposing
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 competing
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 bickering
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 resisting
to refuse to give in to
I tried to fight the temptation to eat another cookie—and lost
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in battling
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in combat
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of fighting
Jeff Horwitz, WSJ, 17 Oct. 2021
Some had joined Ukrainian combat units as volunteers, while others have sought to assist the Ukrainian people in non-fighting capacities.
—Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2023
Verb
But the computer model couldn’t distinguish fighting roosters from non-fighting roosters.
—Jeff Horwitz, WSJ, 17 Oct. 2021
Some had joined Ukrainian combat units as volunteers, while others have sought to assist the Ukrainian people in non-fighting capacities.
—Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fighting
Verb
-
With 10 laps to go, Antonelli was battling with Haas driver Ollie Bearman, sitting P11.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2025
-
Last year at WrestleMania XL, Lynch delivered a notable performance against Rhea Ripley for the Women's World Championship, despite battling strep throat.—
David Faris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Hochman's office also filed a motion opposing the petition.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Apr. 2025
-
These kinds of stuck weather patterns that have intense interaction of opposing forces right next to each other are becoming more common in a changing climate.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The character wrestles with the competing pressures of war and romance, but this warrior-lover didn’t project any doubts at all; killing and dying seemed much to his taste.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
8 Jan. 2025
-
Guys were out there competing their ass off trying to get a win.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
An alien spaceship has spiked an immensely popular bubblegum with an interdimensional ectoplasm that turns everyone who chews it into zombies, and the only ones who can save humanity are bickering foster brothers Daffy Duck and Porky Pig (both voiced by Eric Bauza).—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2025
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Pratt, whose character plays like a cross between Han Solo and Jack Burton, is gifted with a moment or two, bickering with Herman like a married couple and yeeting cars at Sentre headquarters.—
Courtney Howard,
Variety,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The result of a complex physical and chemical treatment process, the finish gets its name for its ceramic-like feel and matte finish while resisting scratches and scuffs.—
Brian Westover,
PCMAG,
8 Jan. 2025
-
He was arrested again in 2016, during his four-year probation term, for shoplifting from a local Walmart and resisting security and was sent back to prison.—
Shirsho Dasgupta,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
North Korea has already supplied thousands of combat troops and a vast amount of conventional weapons to back Russia's war against Ukraine.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 June 2025
-
Modern air combat takes a team, with the sensor and battle management expertise on board AEW&C aircraft a key part of that enterprise.—
David A. Deptula,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
Verb
-
The path is similar this time around, and Tampa Bay is coming off a resounding 40-17 victory over the playoff-contending Los Angeles Chargers.—
Associated Pess,
Orlando Sentinel,
22 Dec. 2024
-
Against this backdrop, the remainder of López's contract could be appealing to a contending team.—
Newsweek,
Newsweek,
22 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
During the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the Biden administration paid out three rounds of stimulus checks to American households, arguing the move would stimulate the economy and help families get through the emergency.—
Hannah Parry,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
-
The president justified his decision by arguing that all three of the nations were not doing enough to curb the influx of drugs, specifically fentanyl, coming into the United States.—
Filip Timotija,
The Hill,
7 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fighting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fighting. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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