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
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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
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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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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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4
as in to oppose
to strive to reduce or eliminate
we must battle hunger and poverty wherever they exist
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of battle
Alan Feuer, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
Yarrow died at his home in New York City after a four-year battle with bladder cancer, his publicist Ken Sunshine told USA TODAY.
—Anika Reed, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2025
Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
As fire crews battle major blazes in the Los Angeles area, Northern California remains largely free of wildfire risk thanks to a stark contrast in weather patterns.
—Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for battle 
Noun
The battle over the report had been building since Mr. Trump was re-elected in November.
—Alan Feuer, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
Yarrow died at his home in New York City after a four-year battle with bladder cancer, his publicist Ken Sunshine told USA TODAY.
—Anika Reed, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
All our thoughts and prayers are with those battling the devastating fires and with all who have been affected.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
As fire crews battle major blazes in the Los Angeles area, Northern California remains largely free of wildfire risk thanks to a stark contrast in weather patterns.
—Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for battle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for battle
Noun
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Set in the pre-Independence, the biopic talks about Savarkar and his role in India’s fight against the British rule.Sweta Kaushal, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
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The Fed dialed back its fight against inflation over the final months of last year, lowering interest rates by a percentage point.Max Zahn, ABC News, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The ugly scene on a suburban street was a harbinger of skirmishes to come.Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025
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Houston teammates then ran in to defend their teammate, as well, leading to a skirmish that spilled out of bounds while Lawrence remained on the turf, still on his back, as medical personnel tended to him.Andrew Greif, NBC News, 1 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Once upon a time, Kansas City Star photographers assigned to work a Chiefs game would focus entirely on what happened on the field.Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 7 Jan. 2025
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Each comment builds your reputation as the go-to person in your field.Jodie Cook, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The rivalry between Clark and Angel Reese became one of the hottest in sports after their meeting in the 2023 NCAA women's basketball championship game, when Reese's LSU Tigers defeated Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes.Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 8 Jan. 2025
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The simmering geopolitical rivalry between the U.S. and China has made supply chains more vulnerable to disruption—heightening the importance of this mineral race even further.Duncan Money / Made by History, TIME, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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For the first time in its 124 years, the Rose Bowl will feature two teams from the same conference competing against one another.Scott Dochterman, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025
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Her internal harem houses competing feminine archetypes that dance and battle for dominance like shadows cast on ancient walls.Fidan Cheikosman, JSTOR Daily, 1 Jan. 2025
Verb
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By Sunday, a number of cities from the Ohio Valley to the mid-Atlantic could be facing hazardous travel as the ice and snow moves east.Daniel Amarante, ABC News, 3 Jan. 2025
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Both face a felony drug distribution conspiracy charge, and Kindle faces an additional charge of conspiracy to convert property of the U.S. government for profit.CBS News, CBS News, 3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Small teams of Green Berets, known as Operational Detachment Alphas, are trained to carry out specialized missions from counterinsurgency and unconventional warfare to combat raids and special reconnaissance missions.James LaPorta, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2025
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Bankers noted there is a significant focus on cybersecurity to combat the growing sophistication of fraud and data breaches.Paul Davis, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The foundation opposes the town council’s decision to allow 10 of the mansion’s 58 bedrooms to be used as guest quarters.Jeff Kleinman, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2025
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Those opposed to these ideas say that young people really didn't vote for Trump because of these innovations.Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Battle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/battle. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
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