battling 1 of 2

adjective

as in fighting

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battling

2 of 2

verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in facing
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 combating
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 opposing
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 battling
Verb
While Kaepernick was out of the league, the NFL went about trying to turn the temperature down on his protest, battling the aftermath of an especially divisive election and a ratings slide some attributed to the player demonstrations. — Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026 After battling competitors from America, France and Lithuania, Gunn didn’t earn a single vote from judges. — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 Lemieux sat out three seasons battling Hodgkin's lymphoma before returning in 2000 to play five more seasons for the Pittsburgh Penguins, adding 77 goals and 152 assists to his already impressive totals. — ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026 The intervention underscores Russia’s new role as protector of military regimes across the Sahel, where Africa Corps has replaced Wagner and prioritizes keeping juntas in power over battling insurgent groups. — Chinedu Asadu, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 They were awakened after being trapped in stone form for a thousand years in medieval Scotland , and are now battling in modern-day New York City. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2026 Two inexperienced QBs are battling for the starter’s job and the defensive line must be rebuilt. — Eric Olson, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 Hyppolite flashed a few times this summer, but is also battling an injury. — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026 Firefighters are battling a large blaze at an apartment in Fort Worth early Tuesday morning, according to the fire department. — Briauna Brown, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for battling
  1. fighting
  2. competing
  3. facing
  4. combating
  5. opposing
  6. contending
  7. encountering
  8. meeting
Adjective
  • After having two children and settling into post-fighting life on her farm in Riverside, Rousey seriously began to consider an MMA return last year.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 17 May 2026
  • Speaking ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Johnson told the BBC that the troops should be sent to peaceful regions in non-fighting roles.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
Definition of fighting
Verb
  • Some of the film’s chaos is by design to clue viewers into the demands and desires of Ryan’s life as his obligations pull him in countless competing directions.
    — Marshall Shaffer, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The franchise grew out of Wong, Shih and Yin’s own experiences competing in and observing Asian beauty pageants and talent contests held across North America and Asia.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of competing
Verb
  • Chancellor Julio Frenk announced the move Monday afternoon in an email to the UCLA community, framing the change around the financial challenges facing an athletic department trying to adapt to a rapidly changing college sports landscape.
    — Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • From a retail perspective, Bryan Gildenberg, managing director of Retail Cities, pointed to the changing competitive landscape facing Shein.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of facing
Verb
  • 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
  • That's the reverse of the Senate race ideologically, in which Markey − a leader in combating climate change − is to Moulton's left.
    — Margie Cullen, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of combating
Verb
  • Hahn said that the opposing viewpoints could have been more thoroughly debated, had the project been subject to CEQA review.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The majority of Paxton’s rally focused on religion, cutting costs of living and opposing Democratic nominee James Talarico.
    — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of opposing
Verb
  • Boston Bruins The Bruins have an average at best roster and farm system, and trying to win while rebuilding on the fly is something that usually backfires more often than leading to a contending team.
    — Corey Pronman, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Kiley turned the criticism around, contending that his willingness to work with both parties was a strength.
    — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of contending
Verb
  • After encountering Baumeister again the following year, Goodyear helped investigators obtain information that led them to identify Baumeister.
    — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Itauma has described moving to England with his family as a child after encountering racist abuse.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of encountering
Verb
  • Any resemblance between the TikTok series and the real-life version of Chairman Tom Ricketts meeting his wife, Cece, in the bleachers is purely coincidental, a Cubs source said.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • In true postmodern fashion, Fitzgerald gets a brief, drunken cameo, meeting Jack on an ocean liner.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of meeting

Browse Nearby Words

battles royal
battling
batty
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Cite this Entry

“Battling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/battling. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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