1
as in battled
to oppose (someone) in physical conflict
a proud people who have fiercely fought all invaders of their homeland
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in opposed
to strive to reduce or eliminate
a civil rights leader who dedicated his life to fighting prejudice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in competed
to engage in a contest
everyone on that street seems to be fighting to see who can create the gaudiest holiday lighting display
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in bickered
to express different opinions about something often angrily
if you kids continue to fight, I'm turning this car around and we're heading back home!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in resisted
to refuse to give in to
I tried to fight the temptation to eat another cookie—and lost
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 fought
White soldiers were reluctant to serve alongside the largely Black battalion, so the Harlem Hellfighters fought alongside the Allied French, fighting off enemy soldiers and becoming the first unit to reach the Rhine River.
—
Alana Wise, NPR, 6 Sep. 2025
Imavov has fought four times since then.
—Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
The words fought through a hurricane of exhaustion only a man who’s watching his job disappear can understand.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
Under Robinson’s leadership, a team of his firm’s attorneys fought and won an 18-year court battle on behalf of the state’s victims of brown lung, a disease that strikes textile workers who inhale particles from raw cotton.
—Michael Gordon, Charlotte Observer, 5 Sep. 2025
Kerr fought occasionally afterwards, but always resulting in defeat.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
In 1783, the last naval battle of the American Revolutionary War was fought just offshore at Cape Canaveral.
—Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
On his 32-yard rushing touchdown, Pribula fought hard in the pocket before taking off.
—Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2025
Crews fought the fire for about an hour.
—Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
Alana Wise, NPR, 6 Sep. 2025
Imavov has fought four times since then.
—Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
The words fought through a hurricane of exhaustion only a man who’s watching his job disappear can understand.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
Under Robinson’s leadership, a team of his firm’s attorneys fought and won an 18-year court battle on behalf of the state’s victims of brown lung, a disease that strikes textile workers who inhale particles from raw cotton.
—Michael Gordon, Charlotte Observer, 5 Sep. 2025
Kerr fought occasionally afterwards, but always resulting in defeat.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
In 1783, the last naval battle of the American Revolutionary War was fought just offshore at Cape Canaveral.
—Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
On his 32-yard rushing touchdown, Pribula fought hard in the pocket before taking off.
—Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2025
Crews fought the fire for about an hour.
—Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fought
Verb
-
The pinstripe-laden crowd stood as Ben Rice battled through a 10-pitch at-bat against Max Scherzer in Sunday’s first inning.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Funders and guests came from the libertarian Pacific Legal Foundation, which battled progressives to end affirmative action; Arnold Ventures, which has supported charter schools and pension reform; and Stand Together, the Koch network’s philanthropy foundation (which is an investor in Semafor).—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Two key points in the case were that board members who personally opposed the books took the action against the input of an advisory committee, and that the board members' action was based on speculative, not actual, fears of disruption.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The county attorney’s office opposed Gooden’s petition to the court in 2020 to restore his firearms rights and a judge did not restore them.—
Mara H. Gottfried,
Twin Cities,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Additionally, buzzyworthy artists Shaboozey and Dasha each scored nods in the MTV Push Performance of the Year category, while Wallen competed for Artist of the Year, Best Album and Song of the Summer.—
Matthew Leimkuehler,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Brandt also competed in track and field and played on a club volleyball team.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
During the squabble, Darcey and Georgi bickered about the communication issues impacting their relationship, leaving Georgi’s parents Ginka and Ivan concerned about how healthy their son’s relationship was.—
Abigail Adams,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Homeland Security officials said Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez resisted arrest and dragged an officer in his car.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot a man who resisted arrest and dragged the officer during a vehicle stop in a Chicago suburb Friday morning, according to the Department of Homeland Security.—
Priscilla Alvarez,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The first cohort of seniors to have contended — not always enthusiastically — with a digital society has reached the age when cognitive impairment becomes more common.—
Paul Spann,
Miami Herald,
3 Sep. 2025
-
As Elizabeth Hardwick and others have contended over the years, criticism has too often diminished as a form of argument and rigorous engagement.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Bayrou had argued that young people in France are being burdened with years of debt to accommodate boomers.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The county argued the action didn't violate First Amendment rights because the books were still available to all library users — a point Lesko, Brophy McGee and Stewart stressed for Maricopa County's action.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Long before the creation of DEI departments formally driving pedagogy in public schools, the ADL had proudly hailed itself as an organization that combatted antisemitism and other forms of bigotry.—
Sahar Mustafah
August 27,
Literary Hub,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fought.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fought. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share