fight off

verb

fought off; fighting off; fights off
: to defend oneself against (someone or something) by fighting or struggling : to avoid being harmed or overcome by (someone or something) by fighting or struggling
They fought off the attack/attackers.
I'm trying to fight off a cold.

Examples of fight off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Evans fought off interference and a picture-perfect brainbuster from McDonagh to win the match with an OG Cutter. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 The whales sometimes have circular marks on their skin, which are potentially sucker marks from fighting off giant squid. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 13 Aug. 2026 Inside, center Jared Wilson went 0-2 during individual pass rush work, and Alijah Vera-Tucker fought off one-time All-Pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner in their matchups. — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 11 Aug. 2026 Ally Schlegel fought off multiple defenders and played it to Evelyn Ijeh who calmly slotted it home to double North Carolina's lead in the ninth minute. — ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fight off

Rhymes for fight off

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Browse Nearby Words

fight like cats and dogs
fight off
fight on
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Cite this Entry

“Fight off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fight%20off. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fight off

Nglish: Translation of fight off for Spanish Speakers

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