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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
3
as in fought
to oppose (someone) in physical conflict
the two armies battled each other for control of the bridge
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in opposed
to strive to reduce or eliminate
we must battle hunger and poverty wherever they exist
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of battled
The Mavericks battled and tried to bully with their size advantage.
—
Zach Harper, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
Harvey Weinstein appeared in court Wednesday as his defense team and prosecutors battled over remaining motions ahead of his upcoming trial.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2025
Indianapolis Colts right tackle Braden Smith battled against more than just opposing edge-rushers last season.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Crochet battled through five innings, holding Toronto scoreless before George Springer crushed a solo homer to center with one out in the sixth.
—Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Firefighters battled a fire downtown Wednesday on the roof of the under-construction Adult Recreation Center.
—Tracy Neal, Arkansas Online, 9 Apr. 2025
Starter Richard Fitts battled for six innings through the rough weather, allowing three runs on six hits and four walks while striking out four.
—Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
After a lethargic start that saw TCU trail 14-5, the Horned Frogs battled back and tied the game at 35-35 at halftime behind two 3-pointers and 13 first-half points by Noah Reynolds.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2025
After an Instagram post about a similar conundrum, went viral in 2023, commenters battled it out on the topic.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 5 Mar. 2025
Zach Harper, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
Harvey Weinstein appeared in court Wednesday as his defense team and prosecutors battled over remaining motions ahead of his upcoming trial.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2025
Indianapolis Colts right tackle Braden Smith battled against more than just opposing edge-rushers last season.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Crochet battled through five innings, holding Toronto scoreless before George Springer crushed a solo homer to center with one out in the sixth.
—Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Firefighters battled a fire downtown Wednesday on the roof of the under-construction Adult Recreation Center.
—Tracy Neal, Arkansas Online, 9 Apr. 2025
Starter Richard Fitts battled for six innings through the rough weather, allowing three runs on six hits and four walks while striking out four.
—Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
After a lethargic start that saw TCU trail 14-5, the Horned Frogs battled back and tied the game at 35-35 at halftime behind two 3-pointers and 13 first-half points by Noah Reynolds.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2025
After an Instagram post about a similar conundrum, went viral in 2023, commenters battled it out on the topic.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 5 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for battled
Verb
-
Job openings rose to historic levels, unemployment fell to its lowest point since the late 1960s and wages grew at their fastest pace in decades as businesses competed for talent.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
23 Dec. 2024
-
Summer Olympics Paris, host of the 2024 Summer Olympics from July 26 to August 11, was bursting at the seams with activity as around 8 million visitors attended The Games, along with the 10,500 athletes who competed for glory.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes,
22 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
By 2024, the Red Sea faced an unprecedented shipping crisis and a decline in traffic.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Tesla shares have dropped 37 percent so far in 2025 as Musk has faced criticism and protests for some of his political remarks and actions.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The Democratic governor also can expect some support from minority Republicans in the legislature who have opposed raising taxes on the wealthy.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2025
-
Those results are similar to those from a July 2009 poll from Quinnipiac University, which found 71% of Connecticut voters favored — and 27% opposed — a state income tax hike for couples making at least $500,000.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Carter’s press secretary Jody Powell contended that journalistic attack dogs foamed at the mouth.—
Amber Roessner / Made by History,
TIME,
29 Dec. 2024
-
Attorneys for the city contended that the Municipal Court's recording practices do not violate the state law and that Legal Action of Wisconsin was trying to expand the scope of the law to include recording more hearings than required.—
Alison Dirr,
Journal Sentinel,
27 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Even when requests are eventually approved, HR employees have sometimes encountered additional roadblocks in actually sending tentative job offers, or had the files get locked again after viewing them.—
Quil Lawrence,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2025
-
The company encountered issues with both of the vehicle's elements — its Super Heavy booster and Ship upper stage — and called the launch off after holding the countdown clock at T-40 seconds.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
4 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Battled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/battled. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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