DOGFIGHT Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

dogfight

noun

ˈdȯg-ˌfīt

Definition of dogfight

as in rivalry

an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another the playful competition over who would get the new office turned into a real dogfight

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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 dogfight There’s also a four-player battle mode where players can team up as Star Fox or the evil Star Wolf team and engage in massive dogfights through space. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 25 June 2026 Dassault’s Mirage fighter – and more recently the Rafale – can creep into enemy airspace, dogfight, drop bombs and launch cruise missiles. — Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 13 June 2026 The aim is to produce crews capable of handling complex multi-domain battlespaces rather than isolated dogfights. — David Szondy may 24, New Atlas, 24 May 2026 Using the latest version of Epic’s Unreal Engine, each Smugglers Run locale is heavily detailed, putting us in more of a dogfight as the Mandalorian chases down pirates and ex-Imperial officers. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for dogfight

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dogfight

Noun

Nattie challenged Jaida Parker to a submission match for Heatwave as their rivalry turned up a notch.

— Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
The handlers may represent rival schools, but those rivalries tend to stop at the kennel, pasture or habitat gate, especially when another mascot is sick, retiring or in need of support.

— Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of rivalry

Noun

The only intrigue at offensive line was the backup center battle between Hudson and Patrick.

— Dan Duggan, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Naturally, with three more Salt Lake City wives at the Alter Ego Party, Gizelle is ready to further investigate why Lisa is in a battle with her whole cast.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of battle

Noun

Also, Napoli will host Como in a duel between Champions League participants.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
If both top closers have to do more or less the same thing, namely, stay in contention, arguably what has to happen here for either to hit the wire first, then the next question is, who wins in a stretch duel.

— Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of duel

Noun

The revelation of the changes comes amid intense competition in the AI industry, as companies release updates to their large language models at a frenetic pace, each seeking to pull ahead of the other.

— Emily Forlini, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026
Consumer prices rose anyway, because without competition, Amazon could charge more in the long run.

— Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of competition

Noun

While Craig will get most of the attention, TCU’s revamped offensive line also had its struggles throughout the day.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026
Those struggles have become increasingly difficult for the Blue Jays to ignore as the season has progressed.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of struggle

Noun

China has invested in cutting-edge intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (collectively known as ISR), as well as electronic warfare systems, drones, and missiles.

— HOLMES LIAO, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of warfare

Noun

The Middle East war and the resulting shipping disruption through the Strait of Hormuz drove up global commodity costs, further squeezing Beijing's own appetite for commodity imports.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
Iran says wedding struck Iranians were fearful that the new strikes signaled war could restart at full throttle.

— Kanishka Singh, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of war

Noun

Not long afterward, two dozen Border Patrol agents descended on Roosevelt High School as class was getting out, prompting a confrontation in which the agents deployed pepper spray and arrested four people, including a teacher.

— Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
First was the question of how to manage Russia’s elites, many of whom were less than enthusiastic about a direct confrontation with the West.

— Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of confrontation

Browse Nearby Words

dogfaces

dogfight

dogfights

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

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Synonyms of dogfight

noun

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