1
as in battled
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 opposed
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 competed
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 bickered
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 resisted
to refuse to give in to
I tried to fight the temptation to eat another cookie—and lost
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fought
Her sister, Emma, fought tirelessly for her release in September 2025, lobbying governments and taking bold actions to raise awareness.
—
Jennifer Earl, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
But despite the vaccines’ success, critics have fought against the COVID shots’ rollout and mRNA vaccine technology more broadly.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 27 Mar. 2026
The battle Castillo fought ultimately enabled her to carry out her decision.
—Pau Mosquera, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
The woman fought him off, with Seals trying to open the door to her apartment before running off, authorities say.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
To Orlando’s credit, however, the group fought hard despite its circumstances and found itself ahead by as many as seven points in the first half, within two of the Cavs in the third quarter and down just three points in the fourth after falling behind by double figures.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026
In the face of United States westward expansion in the 19th century, Native people fought to preserve their land and way of life.
—Kyana Moghadam, NPR, 24 Mar. 2026
The brutal conflict was fought between the Sinhalese-majority government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a separatist group fighting to create an independent state for the Tamil minority.
—Eranda Jayawickreme, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
However, there have been cases where poker clubs fought to stay open and won.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
Jennifer Earl, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
But despite the vaccines’ success, critics have fought against the COVID shots’ rollout and mRNA vaccine technology more broadly.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 27 Mar. 2026
The battle Castillo fought ultimately enabled her to carry out her decision.
—Pau Mosquera, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
The woman fought him off, with Seals trying to open the door to her apartment before running off, authorities say.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
To Orlando’s credit, however, the group fought hard despite its circumstances and found itself ahead by as many as seven points in the first half, within two of the Cavs in the third quarter and down just three points in the fourth after falling behind by double figures.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026
In the face of United States westward expansion in the 19th century, Native people fought to preserve their land and way of life.
—Kyana Moghadam, NPR, 24 Mar. 2026
The brutal conflict was fought between the Sinhalese-majority government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a separatist group fighting to create an independent state for the Tamil minority.
—Eranda Jayawickreme, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
However, there have been cases where poker clubs fought to stay open and won.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fought
Verb
-
Barret Robbins, the enigmatic center who battled mental illness and addiction and was suspended from the Raiders on the eve of Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego, has died.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Authorized in 2023 through two acts of Congress, the memorial will commemorate the ratification of the 19th Amendment and the generations of women who battled for the right to vote.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Tea Party protests that began to erupt in 2009 among conservatives opposed to President Barack Obama were credited with boosting Republican turnout in the 2010 midterms, when the GOP gained 63 seats and control of the House of Representatives in a red wave.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
-
When the Republican governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker, signed a bill that gave two hundred and fifty million taxpayer dollars to the hedge-fund managers who owned the Milwaukee Bucks for a new stadium, the libertarian Cato Institute was among the groups that opposed it.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Latson competed in her first Sweet 16, having played her previous three collegiate seasons at Florida State before her transfer to South Carolina.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
29 Mar. 2026
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Wilson competed at the 2024 Olympic Games as a 16-year-old running a leg in the qualifying for the 4x400 relay and earning a gold medal when the team won in the finals.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Jokic and Oklahoma City’s players had bothered each other and bickered all night.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
28 Feb. 2026
-
The actors jokingly bickered about their history with the ceremony, with Cheadle remarking that Clooney hadn’t won since 2026 winner Timothée Chalamet was 3 years old.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And the president's frustration with the alliance has appeared to increase as member countries have resisted his calls to send ships to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Trump had previously resisted any package that did not include his push to overhaul federal elections known as the Save America Act.—
Sam Gringlas,
NPR,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Catholic and Lutheran churches and mutual benefit societies preserved cultural heritage, combated isolation and shaped the new state’s religious culture for generations.—
Daniel Cueto-Villalobos,
The Conversation,
26 Feb. 2026
-
This phrase was born on social media and its effects can be combatted with intervention from parents.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
20 Dec. 2025
Verb
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One of Aguirre’s trial attorneys, Michael Sklar, contended that Fernandez was the one who hit the boy with a belt, shot him with a BB gun and was responsible for much of the abuse prior to his death.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
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Maduro lawyer Barry Pollack contended that if Maduro got public defenders, the complex case would sap legal resources meant for people who can't afford their own attorneys.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And former President John Quincy Adams, who was then serving in the House, argued the Amistad case before the high court in 1841.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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City managers from both cities argued that the regulations were implemented without adequate consideration of the financial consequences for local governments.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fought.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fought. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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