battled

verb

past tense of battle
1
as in competed
to engage in a contest the two teams, which have long been archrivals, will battle on the court for the state championship

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2
as in faced
to enter into contest or conflict with the two top-seeded tennis players battled each other for almost three hours

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in fought
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 opposed
to strive to reduce or eliminate we must battle hunger and poverty wherever they exist

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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 battled Panettiere gave birth to her daughter, with boxing champ Wladimir Klitschko, in 2014 and battled postpartum depression. — Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026 Throughout her life, Panettiere also battled with mental health and severe addiction. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 17 Aug. 2026 However, prior to the sale, John Seidler and Peter’s widow, Sheel Seidler, battled for control over the team. — Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 Vipress and Christian Napier battled in a brutal Chola Chain Match. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026 Polanco, who has battled an Achilles tendon issue all season, hasn’t played first base since the season’s opening series. — Will Sammon, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026 In the Second Senate district in parts of Hartford, Windsor, and Bloomfield, three Democratic candidates battled in another competitive primary. — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026 In Croatia, firefighters battled a major blaze overnight in the coastal town of Omis, where 14 people were hospitalized, according to the country's prime minister, Andrej Plenkovic. — Npr Staff, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026 But Rose has battled through illness to sing for his fans before. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for battled
  1. competed
  2. faced
  3. fought
  4. opposed
  5. contended
  6. encountered
  7. combated
  8. raced
Verb
  • Later on, the rise of more democratically responsive governments in the region would likely cause considerable headaches as ambitious politicians competed to condemn and denounce the United States.
    — MARC LYNCH, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Tame Impala Is Already a Grammy Winner While Jennie would be a brand-new Grammy nominee, Tame Impala has not only competed before, but won.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of competed
Verb
  • Lionel Messi returned to Subaru Park Wednesday night, drawing fans from across the region as Inter Miami CF faced the Philadelphia Union.
    — Eva Andersen, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • According to some reports, travelers have faced long lines and even missed connecting flights as airports deal with growing pains during the transition to biometric kiosks.
    — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of faced
Verb
  • There's a rising generation that feels that Democrats haven't fought hard enough and haven't fought on the right issues.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • My three sons are 13th generation Americans whose ancestors fought as Patriots during the Revolutionary War.
    — David Neil, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of fought
Verb
  • At a recent information session hosted by the county, about half of the people who delivered public comments were in favor of keeping the plant open, and half were vehemently opposed.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Widely favored by environmentalists and government planners, the idea is generally opposed by real estate agents and anyone who owns a house or business at the beach.
    — Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of opposed
Verb
  • The year 1933, Arendt contended, marked the close of the age of bourgeois emancipation and Jewish liberation, which brought an end to a feeling of security in the West and signaled that the new sense of security in the East was a pipe dream.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The union’s original grievance, the city contended, only challenged Biscari’s suspension pending resolution of his criminal case — not the underlying disciplinary action for the crash itself.
    — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of contended
Verb
  • Along the way, he's encountered some of the challenges that come with spending weeks on two wheels.
    — Marlee Ginter, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Cottonmouths — semiaquatic snakes also known as water moccasins — are in the top three most commonly encountered venomous snakes in Arkansas, Davis said.
    — Devon Henderson, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of encountered
Verb
  • High winds and hilly terrain complicated efforts by firefighters, who combated the blazes with firetrucks and bulldozers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 July 2026
  • High winds and hilly terrain complicated efforts by firefighters, who combated the blazes with fire trucks and bulldozers.
    — Caroline Blumberg, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of combated
Verb
  • And Ian Happ raced around from first to score on the throwing error, giving the Cubs a 4-3 lead.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Tara Rudd drove toward Angel City’s back line and threaded a pass through to Rodman, who raced downfield and curled a shot just over goalkeeper Angelina Anderson.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of raced

Browse Nearby Words

battle cry
battled
battlefield
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Cite this Entry

“Battled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/battled. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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