combat

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

/ verb kəmˈbæt, ˈkɒm bæt, ˈkʌm-; noun ˈkɒm bæt, ˈkʌm- /

SEE MORE 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.

Nearby words

comb-footed spider, comb-out, comb-over, comb., combahee, combat, combat boot, combat fatigue, combat infantryman badge, combat neurosis, combat team

Origin of combat

1535–45; < Middle French combat (noun), combattre (v.) < Late Latin combattere, equivalent to Latin com- com- + Late Latin battere, for Latin battuere to strike, beat

SYNONYMS FOR combat

1, 2 struggle, contest.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR combat ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

com·bat·a·ble, adjectivein·ter·com·bat, nounpre·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, adjectiveun·com·bat·ed, adjective

Synonym study

3. See fight

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for combating

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|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|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|DAILY BEAST
Instead he spoke about combating the stigma attached to PTSD.
The Latest Greatest Generation|Jacob Siegel|October 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Importantly, ATX-101 offers the possibility of combating double chins without surgery.
Kythera Helps You Melt Your Double Chin, No Diet or Surgery Required|Daniel Gross|September 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In this you think you are combating prejudice, but you are at war with Nature.
The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. III. (of 12)|Edmund Burke
Thus Freemasonry, under the pretext of combating ignorance, wages a deceitful and implacable war against religion.
Public School Education|Michael Mller
In combating the coalition, he was fighting battles for them all.
Joseph Bonaparte|John S. C. Abbott
Now, we think this supplies a reductio ad absurdum of the doctrine we are combating.
Illustrations of Universal Progress|Herbert Spencer
He has gained insight into the way of combating his tics, and his self-confidence is on the up grade.
Tics and Their Treatment|Henry Meigne

British Dictionary definitions for combating

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

Derived Forms

combatable, adjectivecombater, noun

Word Origin for combat

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

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