combat

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of COMBAT

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

Synonyms battle, clash (with), combat, scrimmage (with), skirmish (with), war (against)

Related Words duel, joust; bang, bash, bat, batter, beat, belt, bludgeon, bop, buffet, clobber, hammer, hit, knock, paste, pound, punch, slam, slap, slog, slug, smack, smite, sock, strike, swat, swipe, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale; box, spar; brawl; grapple, scuffle, tussle, wrestle; bump, collide

Near Antonyms give up, submit, surrender

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

Synonyms battle, combat, contend (with), counter, oppose, oppugn

Related Words baffle, checkmate, foil, frustrate, resist, thwart, withstand; confront, defy, face, meet

Near Antonyms abide, bear, endure, suffer; advocate, back, champion, endorse (also indorse), support, uphold

Antonyms advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote

What made you want to look up combat[verb]? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Put-downs with flair

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

Test your vocab with our fun, fast game

Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears