BATTLING Synonyms: 213 Similar and Opposite Words

battling 1 of 2

adjective

as in fighting

Related Words

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Dissimilar Words

battling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of battle

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

as in facing

to enter into contest or conflict with the two top-seeded tennis players battled each other for almost three hours

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in combating

to oppose (someone) in physical conflict the two armies battled each other for control of the bridge

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in opposing

to strive to reduce or eliminate we must battle hunger and poverty wherever they exist

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Sundfør was also drawn to Julian’s ideas through a close friend who converted to Catholicism while battling cancer, and with whom Sundfør read religious texts, including Julian’s Revelations. — Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026 Fewer Americans than ever think that their representative in Congress deserves to be reelected ahead of a midterm election, according to new Gallup polling, a warning sign for incumbents from both parties battling for their seats next week. — Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2026 But the star center disappeared Sunday while battling an emotional return to Utah. — Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026 The outbreak has disrupted essential health services that are already underfunded and overstretched and has shifted attention away from other disease outbreaks the country is battling, such as cholera. — ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026 Shir Shai, whose brother Yaron Shai, an Israeli soldier, was killed battling Hamas terrorists that day, delivered a stark message to those considering another vote for Netanyahu. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026 Around 200 firefighters and emergency personnel in the area around Berchtesgaden in the southern region of Bavaria were battling the flames after the building, known as the Kehlsteinhaus, caught fire on Friday, police said. — CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026 Georgia drivers battling elevated fuel prices will continue to get a break at the fuel pump through the Thanksgiving holiday travel period. — Savannah Sicurella, AJC.com, 24 Oct. 2026 After battling the fire from outside, crews later discovered two adults dead inside. — Joe Brandt, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for battling

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

OpenAI’s Codex, Anthropic’s Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, and Cognition’s Devin are all competing for attention from developers.

— Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Like other arts organizations, the theater faces financial challenges while competing with streaming services and other digital entertainment.

— La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of competing

Verb

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing one of the most significant electoral tests of his decades-long political career after three years of war, crisis and global outcry over the country's military campaign in the Gaza Strip.

— Yarden Segev, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2026
As technology companies become increasingly valuable, executives are facing greater scrutiny over how that wealth should benefit the public.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of facing

Verb

Candidates may spend more of their time combatting misinformation as opposed to sharing their platform, Ridout said.

— Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Unions can also be powerful tools for combating racial pay discrimination; the new report shows tripling union membership would narrow the racial wage gap by more than a third.

— Liz Shuler, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of combating

Verb

But, that doesn’t mean companies need to sacrifice and give into the pressure of opposing conference games in order to get the better rating.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Powered by a defensive unit that tallied three takeaways, four sacks and limited the opposing offense to 156 yards, UCLA earned its seventh win of the season Saturday afternoon at the Rose Bowl, trouncing Michigan State 28-10.

— Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of opposing

Verb

But one thing is certain that is not going to be a walkover for any of the contending parties at all in this election.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
He’s thrived under pressure, delivering in tight spots while proving conducive to winning on multiple contending clubs.

— Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of contending

Verb

The incident began shortly before noon, when California Highway Patrol officers reported encountering a person armed with a knife during a traffic violation, according to the sheriff's office.

— Richard Ramos, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Yiyun Li on encountering the past in writing Music Against the Night.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of encountering

Verb

While the Bruins are maintaining the same championship standards as last year, the group tasked with meeting them looks considerably different than last season.

— Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
Qatar’s emir and Iran’s president are meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow today, while Israeli media reported that military leaders resisted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to strike Iran before today’s election.

— Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of meeting

Browse Nearby Words

battles royal

battling

batty

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Style

“Battling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/battling. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of battling

adjective

verb

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