COMBATING Synonyms: 87 Similar and Opposite Words

combating

verb

variants or combatting

present participle of combat

as in fighting

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in opposing

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

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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 combating 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 Selick says that being hyper-focused on any drug is a distraction in combating the opioid crisis. — Mary Jane Gibson, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2026 Instead, the statement pointed to the agency’s work, in collaboration with the Department of Justice, combating retailer fraud. — Eli Hager, ProPublica, 13 Oct. 2026 Uribe was based at the Mather National Guard facility near Rancho Cordova and served as a member of the state Counterdrug Task Force, a unit that assists local, tribal and federal law enforcement entities in combating drug traffickers. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026 Perhaps her biggest challenge is combating the misconception that cystic fibrosis has been cured, which stifles investment into new treatments. — Gerry Smith, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026 Unfortunately, for the last two years, rather than just combating corruption and avoiding controversy, Florida’s attorney general, James Uthmeier, has been up to his neck in both. — Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026 In May, Meta laid off ten percent of its workforce, including members of its investigations team, which had been instrumental in combating online influence operations. — RenÉe Diresta, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for combating

Verb

The discovery raises the possibility of a grim outcome in the search for the four men, which has led to El Salvador deploying 450 special forces soldiers to Haiti as of Friday to aid the gang-fighting force in the search.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2026
The whole idea is for Israel to keep fighting, because endless wars serve Netanyahu to maintain… a constant state of emergency.

— Daniel Estrin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of fighting

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 Macdonald also spent the last nine years of his life battling leukemia while keeping it secret not just from his audience but his friends.

— Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
After battling the fire from outside, crews later discovered two adults dead inside.

— Joe Brandt, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of battling

Verb

Republicans' ace in the hole While Democratic candidates dominate direct donations, Republicans are countering with overwhelming outside spending.

— Luke Fountain, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Tens of thousands of drones have been launched in the wars in Gaza, Iran, and Ukraine, and countering them is costly, imprecise, and dangerous, with defensive missiles leading to all manner of falling debris.

— Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of countering

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combated

combating

combative

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“Combating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combating. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of combating

verb

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