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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1
2
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
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Recent Examples of battle
Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 10 Feb. 2025
Stitt’s kept a house in Golden for years and was a regular at Marv Kay Stadium, usually surrounded by Mines alums, toasting bridges built and battles won.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 9 Feb. 2025
David Browne, Rolling Stone, 12 Feb. 2025
In its first two seasons, Deal or No Deal Island has succeeded in finding intriguing groups of new reality competition contestants to battle it out for millions of dollars.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 11 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for battle 
Noun
Last year’s overtime battle between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers ended on a walk-off touchdown.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 10 Feb. 2025
Stitt’s kept a house in Golden for years and was a regular at Marv Kay Stadium, usually surrounded by Mines alums, toasting bridges built and battles won.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 9 Feb. 2025
Verb
In the late 2000s, Victor Willis, whose solo career had never taken off and who’d battled drug issues and gone into rehab, reentered the picture.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 12 Feb. 2025
In its first two seasons, Deal or No Deal Island has succeeded in finding intriguing groups of new reality competition contestants to battle it out for millions of dollars.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 11 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for battle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for battle
Noun
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The incident may have started as a fight inside a local McDonald’s restaurant, which then spilled out onto the street, according to a police source.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
15 Feb. 2025
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Transport boxes, electronic scales and gaffs, sharp blades that can be attached to roosters' legs during fights, were found on the property, the news statement said.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
15 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The move immediately became a key skirmish in Mr. Musk’s wider war on the federal bureaucracy.—
Chris Cameron,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2025
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The development is just the latest skirmish in a decades-long war that cyclists have waged to legally ride the trails in mountain biking’s birthplace.—
Maureen Gaffney,
Outside Online,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The Travelers will once again be a Signature Event in 2025, meaning the field will consist of many of the sport’s top players with no cut and a $20 million total purse, with $3.6 million to the winner.—
Kels Dayton,
Hartford Courant,
11 Feb. 2025
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Drivers will compete head-to-head, starting with a field of 32 drivers, shrinking to 16, eight, four and then the final two remaining drivers will battle for a $1 million prize.—
Shane Connuck,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Now, two years later, James was glad to be at the bar with his dad, despite the rivalry.—
Marcus D. Smith,
Sacramento Bee,
10 Feb. 2025
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In the midst of this, Larson also has a healthy rivalry brewing with Christopher Bell, as both frequently find themselves in exciting finishes on dirt tracks and other formats.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
9 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Related article World Athletics’ policy limiting trans women participation is ‘here to stay,’ says president Sebastian Coe Unable to compete in female world rankings competitions due to the current rules from the sport’s governing body, Telfer’s dreams of becoming an Olympian are currently on hold.—
Amanda Davies, Aleks Klosok and George Ramsay,
CNN,
18 Feb. 2025
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This matchup is part of the 2025 Oman Tri-Nation Series, which has these two nations and Namibia competing.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
18 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Such a shift invokes concomitant issues, ones that Bentley is not alone in facing.—
Brett Berk,
Robb Report,
9 Feb. 2025
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The 11-year-old had faced numerous health challenges and was very frail, Fasino wrote in a Facebook post.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN,
9 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Brazil's leftist president recently told the country's citizens not to purchase expensive grocery items in an effort to combat soaring food prices.—
Louis Casiano,
Fox News,
7 Feb. 2025
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It's called The Store, and it is meant to give choice to recipients and to combat any stigma around receiving free food.—
The Tennessean,
The Tennessean,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Trump’s pick to lead the CDC, David Weldon, has questioned the safety of vaccines, and Jay Bhattacharya, the administration’s nominee to lead the National Institutes of Health, vehemently opposed COVID shutdowns.—
Nicholas Florko,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2025
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The Treasury Department opposes the restraining order.—
Hannah Parry,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Battle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/battle. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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