battle 1 of 2

noun

ˈba-tᵊl How to pronounce battle (audio)
Definition of battlenext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

battle

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to compete
to engage in a contest the two teams, which have long been archrivals, will battle on the court for the state championship

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2
as in to face
to enter into contest or conflict with the two top-seeded tennis players battled each other for almost three hours

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to oppose
to strive to reduce or eliminate we must battle hunger and poverty wherever they exist

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of battle
Noun
The puck squirted free after a battle along the left wing boards and came straight to Verhaeghe just inside the left faceoff dot. — Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026 YouTube has been Netflix’s biggest threat in the battle for viewers’ time. — Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy — battling with Chacarra for the season-long Race to Dubai title — were eight and 10 shots off the lead, respectively. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026 The new leadership team came as the festival and its Villa Noailles parent association battled financial woes and allegations of mismanagement, which resulted in the exit of founder Jean-Pierre Blanc. — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for battle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for battle
  1. fight
  2. skirmish
  3. field
  4. rivalry
  5. compete
  6. face
  7. combat
  8. oppose
Noun
  • Russia's heavy bombardment of the power grid ahead of winter has been an annual feature of the war, aimed at wearing down Ukraine's appetite for the fight by denying civilians heat and running water.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Russia’s heavy bombardment of the power grid ahead of winter has been an annual feature of the war, aimed at wearing down Ukraine’s appetite for the fight by denying civilians heat and running water.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of fight
Noun
  • This leads to even more behind-the-scenes skirmishes laced with character-centric comedy, as opposing factions align.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Ties between the two countries remain strained over their long-running Himalayan border dispute, which erupted into a deadly skirmishes in 2020 that saw soldiers from both sides use rocks and iron rods in brutal hand-to-hand combat.
    — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of skirmish
Noun
  • These industry changes come at an uncertain time as artificial intelligence encroaches on the creative field and consumers are turning to social media platforms for music consumption and discovery.
    — Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Just a week after earning C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week honors by converting all five field-goal attempts, kicker Robert Czeremcha missed twice, including a potential game-tying kick at the end of regulation.
    — Alejandro Hernandez, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of field
Noun
  • The alleged rivalry between Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle was seemingly dying down—but then Meghan and Prince Harry moved back to the UK.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The group will confront old tensions and determine if these chapters can finally be closed, or if some rivalries are simply too deep to leave in the past.
    — Peter White, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of rivalry
Verb
  • Rose was having a standout season with the Rangers, a program on track to make the postseason and compete for the first playoff win in the school’s young history.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Oct. 2026
  • With no party likely to win a majority, Netanyahu’s Likud and its far-right, ultra-Orthodox allies face centrist and left-wing challengers competing to assemble a governing coalition.
    — Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of compete
Verb
  • The co-pilot accused of carrying out the attack is under arrest and facing prosecution by UAE authorities.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Many depend on critical minerals such as copper and rare earth elements that face growing supply chain pressures.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of face
Verb
  • In August, the health board designated a $250,000 fund for rat abatement — so far the only public money in Idaho specifically earmarked to combat the nuisance.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The deaths came as Indonesia intensified efforts to combat forest and land fires that have worsened this year as El Niño intensifies a prolonged dry season.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of combat
Verb
  • Before the hearing began, several dozen people rallied outside the courthouse to oppose the continuing presence of the military in the city.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Many of those executed were arrested in Derna and Benghazi cities during or after conflicts between the LNA and opposing armed groups between 2014 and 2018, according to the Wednesday report.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of oppose

Phrases Containing battle

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battings
battle
battle-ax
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Cite this Entry

“Battle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/battle. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on battle

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about battle

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