COMBATS Synonyms: 179 Similar and Opposite Words

combats 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of combat

as in fights

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in opposes

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

combats

2 of 2

noun

plural of combat

as in actions

active fighting during the course of a war a soldier who served throughout the war without actually seeing combat

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in skirmishes

a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups the two stags entered a furious combat for dominance of the herd

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

truces

as in battles

an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another the fierce ideological combat between the religionists and the secularists

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 combats

Verb

Zuckerberg also published a lengthy manifesto laying out his vision and approach to AI, attempting to assuage wide-ranging concerns about AI as the company combats criticisms about its data center buildout and AI smart glasses. — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026 One of the ways Landers combats this tendency is to be radically transparent. — Mark C. Perna, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Whereas Kiana Murden, Vogue’s beauty shopping editor, says the perfect SPF is one that’s both lightweight and combats oily, prone skin. — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 17 July 2026 The presence of local brick-and-mortar romance bookstores not only combats the stigma but also fosters connection among readers searching for community beyond their screens. — Katelyn Frey, The Conversation, 10 July 2026 LilyAna’s version is also packed with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E for deep penetrating hydration that combats any of the infamous drying side effects associated with the ingredient. — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 16 June 2026 Saturday’s blaze comes as the city combats a massive increase in fatal fires this year. — Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 23 May 2026 Avoiding posts on social media is the way DePaul student Loughman combats her health anxiety. — Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026 Regular physical activity helps reduce blood pressure, eases arthritic pain, combats chronic illness and lifts your mood. — Helen Dennis, Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026

Noun

Sunday Riley Good Genes All-in-One Lactic Acid Treatment My medium skin tone is prone to dark spots, but the Sunday Riley Good Genes elixir combats scaring. — Ruby McAuliffe, InStyle, 4 June 2026 His ability to reset and stay attached combats longer, more powerful opponents. — Daniel Popper, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026 Bodies in motion are intercut with a bespoke gun factory’s grinding gears; human combats are juxtaposed with VR imagery or first-person shooter games. — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026 This proactive boundary setting manages stakeholder expectations, combats scope creep and forces ruthless focus on the absolute core, driving true agility over bloat. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for combats

Verb

Meta has swooned as the company fights litigation alleging that the firm seeded addictive behavior in children.

— Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
With only three ingredients—water, sodium chloride, and hypochlorous acid—the on-the-go spritzer soothes skin and fights bacteria.

— Kiana Murden, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of fights

Verb

Later, the Moon opposes Saturn in your 1st House of Identity, asking whether an agreement still honors your own limits.

— Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2026
But that popularity may not translate directly into votes, according to Kevin Sabet, CEO of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a non-profit that opposes marijuana legalization and commercialization.

— Bob Woods, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of opposes

Noun

Then in August, the UK AI Security Institute shared a report detailing how Anthropic’s Mythos 5 took autonomous, unsanctioned actions on the internet in a training evaluation, targeting real people and organizations.

— Tim Keary, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Colorado attorneys used the email as part of their argument that the Executive Office of the President should be required to turn over additional records related to those actions.

— Karen Morfitt, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of actions

Noun

The controversy is at once new and familiar, reflecting both the dramatic changes that the proliferation of AI has wrought on book publishing and echoing other skirmishes this year in which authors have been accused of using AI.

— Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug. 2026
Frantic skirmishes between the family and the beast take place as the house floods, and eventually the invading creature is tangled up in a trap.

— William Earl, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of skirmishes

Noun

Teams earned points by winning weekly head-to-head battles – tugging a sled across the field the fastest, surviving a heated game of dodgeball – and by simply doing the right thing.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
More recently, the legal battles became the subject of barbs and jokes as comedian Bill Maher accepted the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in late June.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of battles

Noun

Together, the three scents form the latest collection for Xerjoff Blends, a series of unique fragrances born from the perfume house’s work with notable brands and influential people rooted in culturally significant fields.

— Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2026
Changes in the geopolitical situation and advances in military fields like hypersonic weapon systems are driving a push for deployable launch infrastructure.

— David Szondy August 15, New Atlas, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of fields

Noun

In the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait — where clashes have intensified in recent weeks — data shows at least 45 vessels crossed, including eight tankers and eight cargo ships going to the Gulf of Aden.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
The 2026 schedule will be challenging as well with two September clashes with conference contender SMU and a trip to Tuscaloosa to face revenge-minded Alabama.

— Andre C. Fernandez, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of clashes

Noun

Dynastic rivalries, regional rebellions, economic disruption, and the demographic effects of the Black Death all undermined imperial authority.

— Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 2026
Professional sports have always thrived on heroes, villains, rivalries and grievances.

— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of rivalries

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combativeness

combats

combe

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Style

“Combats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combats. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of combats

verb

noun

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