COMBATS Synonyms: 179 Similar and Opposite Words

combats 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of combat

as in fights

to oppose (someone) in physical conflict a general eager to combat the enemy on his own ground

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in opposes

to strive to reduce or eliminate must marshal all of our resources to combat this disease

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

combats

2 of 2

noun

plural of combat

as in actions

active fighting during the course of a war a soldier who served throughout the war without actually seeing combat

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in skirmishes

a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups the two stags entered a furious combat for dominance of the herd

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

truces

as in battles

an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another the fierce ideological combat between the religionists and the secularists

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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 combats

Verb

FinCEN is the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, which combats money laundering, illicit financial activities and terrorist financing networks around the world. — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026 How Wisconsin combats loneliness Sampson said re-establishing connection to other people can often be a trial-and-error process. — Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 9 Sep. 2026 This also delivers intense hydration and barrier support that combats thin, dry, crepey skin. — Essence Wiley, InStyle, 7 Sep. 2026 The Chinese government firmly opposes and combats all forms of cyberattacks in accordance with the law. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2026 The Fed typically combats inflation by raising its benchmark interest rate to slow borrowing and spending and cool the economy. — Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026 Zuckerberg also published a lengthy manifesto laying out his vision and approach to AI, attempting to assuage wide-ranging concerns about AI as the company combats criticisms about its data center buildout and AI smart glasses. — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026 One of the ways Landers combats this tendency is to be radically transparent. — Mark C. Perna, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Whereas Kiana Murden, Vogue’s beauty shopping editor, says the perfect SPF is one that’s both lightweight and combats oily, prone skin. — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 17 July 2026

Noun

It’s formulated with an 8 percent concentration of mandelic acid, an ingredient that decongests pores, combats existing and prevents new blemishes, evens out tone, and plumps wrinkles. — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 2 Sep. 2026 His ability to reset and stay attached combats longer, more powerful opponents. — Daniel Popper, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026 Bodies in motion are intercut with a bespoke gun factory’s grinding gears; human combats are juxtaposed with VR imagery or first-person shooter games. — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026 This proactive boundary setting manages stakeholder expectations, combats scope creep and forces ruthless focus on the absolute core, driving true agility over bloat. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for combats

Verb

As Ukraine fights a larger, richer and better-equipped enemy, Kyiv sees the strikes on Russian oil refineries as one of its few instruments to reduce Moscow’s ability to fight.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
Gemma, still recovering from her injury, fights her impulses and stays on the sideline.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of fights

Verb

The museum opposes an attempt by the Jewish Federation-Council of Greater Los Angeles and its board chair Daniel Gryczman, who sued in September for the return of Lucas Cranach the Elder’s 16th-century diptych painting Adam and Eve.

— Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Doody, a former radio host, also supports school choice and opposes a millionaire tax, two notches in his favor.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of opposes

Noun

Now, Amy Helm has countersued the studio, alleging that her successor, Brian Parillo, used invalid corporate actions to take control of the famed music venue in Woodstock, New York, and improperly obtained voting power from Levon Helm’s widow.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2026
Major reports about its immigration actions and pay-for-play operations have gotten significant airtime on the network and praise from Weiss.

— semafor.com, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of actions

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 skirmishes

Noun

Policy Policy Your guide to the Supreme Court, federal courts, judicial nominations, and the legal battles shaping American policy.

— Washington Examiner, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2026
That changed after the 2020 presidential election, when secretaries of state in places such as Arizona, Georgia and Michigan were thrust into battles over election results, certification and false claims of widespread fraud.

— Thom Reilly, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of battles

Noun

Gomelsky told investigators there was no reason Wang would need the victim’s research notes because their fields of study at the university were unrelated, the affidavit said.

— Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
The schedule also introduces Banana Ball 360, a Notre Dame Stadium event with games alternating between two fields.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of fields

Noun

However, more than a year later, clashes continue in eastern Congo, and experts say negotiations will become even more complicated with Kabila in a leadership position.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
Main roads leading Yemen’s third-largest city have been closed amid rebel attacks, with regular clashes on the outskirts and overnight bombardment.

— Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of clashes

Noun

As the diffusion of power fuels geopolitical rivalries, Americans are growing weary of entanglement in a fragmenting world.

— Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2026
Through schoolyard rivalries, neighborhood hustles, and family setbacks, Kev turns every disaster into a story.

— Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of rivalries

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combativeness

combats

combe

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Style

“Combats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combats. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of combats

verb

noun

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