combat

1 of 3

noun

com·​bat ˈkäm-ˌbat How to pronounce combat (audio)
Synonyms of combat
1
: a fight or contest between individuals or groups
2
: conflict, controversy
3
: active fighting in a war : action
casualties suffered in combat

combat

2 of 3

verb

com·​bat kəm-ˈbat How to pronounce combat (audio) ˈkäm-ˌbat How to pronounce combat (audio)
combated or combatted; combating or combatting

intransitive verb

: to engage in combat : fight

transitive verb

1
: to fight with : battle
2
: to struggle against
especially : to strive to reduce or eliminate
combat pollution

combat

3 of 3

adjective

com·​bat ˈkäm-ˌbat How to pronounce combat (audio)
1
: relating to combat
combat missions
2
: designed or destined for combat
combat boots
combat troops

Synonyms of combat

Relevance

Noun

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for combat

oppose, combat, resist, withstand mean to set oneself against someone or something.

oppose can apply to any conflict, from mere objection to bitter hostility or warfare.

opposed the plan

combat stresses the forceful or urgent countering of something.

combat disease

resist implies an overt recognition of a hostile or threatening force and a positive effort to counteract or repel it.

resisting temptation

withstand suggests a more passive resistance.

trying to withstand peer pressure

Examples of combat in a Sentence

Noun Some of these soldiers have never seen combat. He was killed in combat. Verb The drug helps combat infection. She dedicated her life to combating poverty. Exercise can help combat the effects of stress. The mayor pledged to combat crime. They have been combating the rebels for months.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Turkey’s defense industry has demonstrated another step forward in precision air-to-ground warfare with the successful live-fire testing of ASELSAN’s TOLUN deep-strike munition family from a Bayraktar AKINCI unmanned combat aerial vehicle. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026 Tackling the rust problem is not something that could be done at sea, especially during combat operations, Schuster told CNN. — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
The method could combat refuse accumulation and provide sustenance in remote or disaster locations — or in space someday. — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 2 Sep. 2026 Such tools for combating oppressive heat look prescient now, but Stierli isn’t impressed; Tropical Modernism was sensitive to the region’s climate but not to its culture. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 2 Sep. 2026
Adjective
Wyper said Omni’s predominant business was transporting the families and spouses of active military families into non-combat zones, but had business dating back more than 20 years with the Department of Homeland Security. — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026 Military flights routinely turned off ADS-B out capabilities, even on non-combat missions. — Zach Wichter, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for combat

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French, from combatre to attack, fight, from Vulgar Latin *combattere, from Latin com- + battuere to beat

First Known Use

Noun

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1564, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Adjective

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of combat was in 1548

Phrases Containing combat

Browse Nearby Words

combassou
combat
combatant
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Combat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/combat. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

combat

1 of 2 noun
com·​bat ˈkäm-ˌbat How to pronounce combat (audio)
1
: a fight or contest between individuals or groups
2
: conflict entry 1 sense 2
3
: active fighting in a war : action
soldiers experienced in combat

combat

2 of 2 verb
com·​bat kəm-ˈbat How to pronounce combat (audio)
ˈkäm-ˌbat
combated or combatted; combating or combatting
1
: to fight with : battle
2
: to struggle against
especially : to strive to reduce or eliminate
combat disease
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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