combat

[ verb kuhm-bat, kom-bat, kuhm-; noun kom-bat, kuhm- ]

See synonyms for combat on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),com·bat·ed, com·bat·ing or (especially British) com·bat·ted, com·bat·ting.

to fight or contend against; oppose vigorously: to combat crime.

verb (used without object),com·bat·ed, com·bat·ing or (especially British) com·bat·ted, com·bat·ting.

to battle; contend: to combat with disease.

noun

Military. active, armed fighting with enemy forces.
a fight, struggle, or controversy, as between two persons, teams, or ideas.

Origin of combat

First recorded in 1535–45; from Middle French combat (noun), combattre (verb), from Late Latin combattere, from Latin com- com- + Late Latin battere, from Latin battuere “to strike, beat”

synonym study For combat

3. See fight

Other words for combat

1, 2	struggle, contest

See synonyms for combat on Thesaurus.com

Other words from combat

com·bat·a·ble, adjective
in·ter·com·bat, noun
pre·com·bat, noun, verb, pre·com·bat·ed, pre·com·bat·ing or (especially British) pre·com·bat·ted, pre·com·bat·ting.
self-com·bat·ing, adjective
un·com·bat·a·ble, adjective
un·com·bat·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use combat in a sentence

On Wednesday night, when President Barack Obama explained our strategy for combating ISIS he said … what?
In ISIS Speech, Obama Failed To Seize The Moment—Again | Malcolm MacDougall | September 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The last phase, which would take three years, would involve combating ISIS inside Syria, its primary base.
Republicans Offer Obama ISIS War Authorization He Doesn’t Want | Josh Rogin | September 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Winstead explained that, “combating fear and lies with humor and truth is the best job in the world.”
Bill Maher for Congress? | Dean Obeidallah | March 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The cost of combating these swarms to prevent a public health crisis could be enormous, he adds.
How Climate Change Is Causing Chaos in the Animal Kingdom | Nina Strochlic | January 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Instead he spoke about combating the stigma attached to PTSD.
The Latest Greatest Generation | Jacob Siegel | October 10, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST

The position they chose to assume in combating this “fine old gentlemanly vice” is a singular feature in its history.
A Cursory History of Swearing | Julian Sharman
But he was a Job wrestling with difficulty, a Job combating and making head against afflictions; a Job conquering!
Toilers of the Sea | Victor Hugo
It was this influence that she felt herself combating with growing weakness.
The Devil | Joseph O'Brien
The hot colonic flushing is particularly serviceable in combating the sick headaches of migraine.
The Mother and Her Child | William S. Sadler
But they all looked to me, as the only person capable of combating a like adversary with hope of success.
The Confessions of J. J. Rousseau, Complete | Jean Jacques Rousseau

British Dictionary definitions for combat

combat

noun(ˈkɒmbæt, -bət, ˈkʌm-)

a fight, conflict, or struggle
- an action fought between two military forces
- (as modifier): a combat jacket

single combat a fight between two individuals; duel
close combat or hand-to-hand combat fighting at close quarters

verb(kəmˈbæt, ˈkɒmbæt, ˈkʌm-) -bats, -bating or -bated

(tr) to fight or defy
(intr; often foll by with or against) to struggle or strive (against); be in conflict (with): to combat against disease

Origin of combat

C16: from French, from Old French combattre, from Vulgar Latin combattere (unattested), from Latin com- with + battuere to beat, hit

Derived forms of combat

combatable, adjective
combater, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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