variants
or combatting
1
as in fighting
to oppose (someone) in physical conflict
a general eager to combat the enemy on his own ground
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in opposing
to strive to reduce or eliminate
must marshal all of our resources to combat this disease
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 combating
Since the shooting, Kelly and Giffords have dedicated themselves to combating gun violence in America.
—
Ilana Frost, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
But the company is also combatting fears of an AI bubble amid growing competition and a push by tech companies to make their own AI chips to decrease reliance on Nvidia.
—Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
But Ramsey said the United States' decision to attack Venezuela and depose Maduro went beyond just combating illicit drug trafficking.
—Phil Helsel, NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026
First, the city must spread the word that combating these frauds and teaming up with whistleblowers is a priority, thus counteracting the perception that the city and its victim agencies are often uninterested in these claims.
—Randall Fox, New York Daily News, 1 Jan. 2026
Private companies and public bodies began emphasizing their commitments to combatting disease.
—Isabella Cueto, STAT, 29 Dec. 2025
Álvarez specifically identifies Colombian President Duque and former President Alvaro Uribe as having knowledge of a secret meeting at a Marriott Hotel in Bogota where discussions included combating the ELN.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Amichai Chikli, Israel’s minister for combating antisemitism, warns Zohran Mamdani election to be New York's nex\t mayor is a wake-up call for Jews.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
What Happens Next Minnesota's Medicaid providers, and their handling of services and claims, are likely going to continue to be scrutinized by the Department of Human Services, following the direction of Walz' executive order on combating fraud in the system.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combating
Verb
-
Barton gave the jury the impression of a man prepared to go into daily combat on numerous fronts, constantly fighting one battle after another, in service of his principles.—
-
The Justice Department under him was not really interested in fighting crime.—
Verb
-
The New York City Police Department maintained a safety perimeter around the protest to ensure no chaos sparked between the opposing protesters.—
-
The footage released by CCTV depicted two opposing forces in the exercise.—
Verb
-
Chicago Bulls legend and Simeon High School graduate Derrick Rose was back at the Advocate Center on Friday to surprise a young Bulls fan who's battling cancer.—
-
Carter's final film role came in 2020's The Way Back, which starred Ben Affleck as a high school basketball coach battling with alcoholism.—
Verb
-
Kardashian on Thursday night did an IG post clapping back at the bad reviews, countering them with positive feedback from viewers.—
-
The measure is expected to favor Democrats slightly, countering Republican gains from recent redistricting efforts in other states.—
Cite this Entry
“Combating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combating. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share