do battle

VERB

come to blows

Synonyms

WEAK

assault attack battle bear arms box brawl challenge clash cross swords dispute duel exchange blows feud fight joust mix it up ply weapons quarrel scrap scuffle skirmish wage war

VERB

duke it out

Synonyms

WEAK

battle bump heads cross swords with fight fight it out fight to the finish give no quarter lock horns mix it up with struggle with tangle with wrestle with

VERB

encounter

Synonyms

STRONGEST

collide confront engage face meet

STRONG

affront battle combat conflict contend grapple strive struggle

WEAK

clash with cross swords

Antonyms

STRONG

retreat surrender

WEAK

avoid evade let go run away yield

VERB

fight

Synonyms

STRONGEST

attack battle challenge clash meet protect resist

STRONG

altercate assault bicker box brawl buck contend dispute duel feud grapple joust oppugn quarrel repel rowdy scrap scuffle skirmish spar strive struggle tiff tilt traverse tug tussle war withstand wrangle wrestle

WEAK

bandy with bear arms brush with carry on war cross swords exchange blows flare-up go to war mix it up ply weapons take all comers take the field take up the gauntlet wage war

Antonyms

STRONG

agree give in make peace surrender yield

WEAK

believe support uphold

VERB

grapple

Synonyms

STRONGEST

confront contend cope deal with

STRONG

attack battle catch clash clasp close clutch combat encounter engage face fasten fight grasp grip hold hook hug nab nail scuffle seize snatch struggle tackle take tussle

WEAK

take on

Antonyms

STRONG

agree avoid be immune cancel disconnect dodge free give idle let go liberate lose make peace misunderstand offer open receive refuse reject release retreat run stop support surrender unfasten unlock yield

VERB

skirmish

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bicker go to war scuffle spar wrangle

STRONG

altercate argue battle brawl clash combat conflict dispute engage feud grapple quarrel scrap struggle tussle war wrestle

WEAK

cross swords mix it up wage war

Antonyms

STRONGEST

agree

STRONG

harmonize let go make peace release surrender yield

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Even though the couple is financially secure—she’s a doctor, he stays home—Xhudo followed with dread the news reports about ever-climbing vehicle prices, and he approached the car-buying process ready to do battle.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 1, 2025

Those with great experience on a subject have little to no ability to do battle with the smug, the young and the inexperienced.

From Salon • Sep. 19, 2025

But as much as I loved seeing young people do battle with oppression, I found myself chasing That Voice: the urgent, conflicted narration of someone thrown too young into the center of a hell-storm.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2025

All courtesies are left on the start line before the boats do battle, colliding repeatedly as they fight for the best line, and often ruining the best-laid plans.

From BBC • Jul. 20, 2024

Those who witnessed it have written of the terror and the awe they felt as they watched these two extraordinary wizards do battle.

From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling

do battle

Example Sentences

Related Words