battled

verb

past tense of battle
1
as in competed
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 faced
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 fought
to oppose (someone) in physical conflict the two armies battled each other for control of the bridge

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4
as in opposed
to strive to reduce or eliminate we must battle hunger and poverty wherever they exist

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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 battled Over the course of a grueling four-hour, 36-minute first-round loss at Arthur Ashe Stadium late Sunday night, 39-year-old Novak Djokovic battled not only a gritty opponent in unseeded Mariano Navone but his own body. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026 The Dominion battled right back with a pair of stereo suplexes, but Jamie Hayter and Alex Windsor hit stereo clotheslines as all four combatants were laid out. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 At least 93,000 people have been affected by flash floods on the Nepal-China border, the Red Cross said on Friday, as rescuers battled to reach remote rural areas in the Himalayas. — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 This time around, Creed must fight against Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu), the son of Ivan Drago, who Rocky battled in Rocky IV. — Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026 Especially after a roller coaster last few years, in which the actress battled back-to-back health issues. — Morgan Evans, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 Hartford has battled injuries to many of its key players but treaded water at 5-9-5 (W-D-L) and hung around the playoff line. — Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 27 Aug. 2026 Draymond Green, 37, battled foot, ankle and back injuries all season. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026 Mourmouras battled it for 90 minutes, keeping directly above it during the fight to maintain control of the massive fish. — Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 26 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for battled
  1. competed
  2. faced
  3. fought
  4. opposed
  5. contended
  6. encountered
  7. combated
  8. raced
Verb
  • Her brother and former pro, Derek Hough, also competed as a pro for nearly 10 years, winning the Mirrorball Trophy six times, before transitioning to becoming a judge in 2020.
    — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The Inter-City Beauties competed along with hundreds of other women.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of competed
Verb
  • That progression is important because solid-state batteries have faced a difficult transition from promising laboratory cells to reliable, high-volume manufacturing.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The psychological thriller, which Zeller wrote, produced and directed, follows the emotional and moral challenges faced by a couple in an increasingly uncertain world.
    — Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of faced
Verb
  • The bout marked the first time Cameron and Mayer, 36, had fought each other at either the amateur or professional level.
    — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The gambling industry is far more entrenched in Washington and fought major legislative battles before.
    — Marshall Cohen, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of fought
Verb
  • There, the president’s order and the post office rule enforcing it will certainly be opposed by the Court’s three liberal justices, who disagreed with the conclusion that opponents had filed their case too soon.
    — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The union has opposed such a window on the belief players would feel forced into subpar contracts.
    — Evan Drellich, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of opposed
Verb
  • The administration has contended the changes are relatively minor and legal.
    — Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • In its counterarguments, Google contended would be unduly harsh to break up a complex network that distributes ads that online publishers depend upon to help finance digital services used by millions of consumers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of contended
Verb
  • Later that day, Franklin police encountered Ray at a truck stop after receiving a report of a suspicious person, Franklin police have said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The police report indicated that Lomon encountered the man near the elevators with an open knife.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of encountered
Verb
  • High winds and hilly terrain complicated efforts by firefighters, who combated the blazes with firetrucks and bulldozers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 July 2026
  • High winds and hilly terrain complicated efforts by firefighters, who combated the blazes with fire trucks and bulldozers.
    — Caroline Blumberg, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of combated
Verb
  • On Monday, rescuers in Nepal raced to free hundreds of workers thought to be trapped in hydropower site tunnels that were buried in mud.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Two Yavapai County Sheriff's Office deputies raced against the clock to save a man's life after a rattlesnake bit him at a remote campsite.
    — Christian Cervantes, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of raced

Browse Nearby Words

battle cry
battled
battlefield
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Cite this Entry

“Battled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/battled. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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