1
: a fight or contest between individuals or groups
2
3
: active fighting in a war : action
casualties suffered in combat
combated or combatted; combating or combatting
: to engage in combat : fight
1
: to fight with : battle
2
: to struggle against
especially
: to strive to reduce or eliminate
combat pollution
1
: relating to combat
combat missions
2
: designed or destined for combat
combat boots
combat troops
Synonyms
Examples of combat in a Sentence
Noun
Some of these soldiers have never seen combat.
He was killed in combat.
Verb
The drug helps combat infection.
She dedicated her life to combating poverty.
Exercise can help combat the effects of stress.
The mayor pledged to combat crime.
They have been combating the rebels for months.
Recent Examples on the Web
David Sims, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2024
For soldiers killed in combat, this is also when their military tombstone is unveiled.
—Shira Rubin, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
The number of Israeli soldiers killed in combat in Gaza since the start of the war has now surpassed 250.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024
Israel has also placed its military on high alert, according to an Israeli official, canceled leave for combat units, recalled some reservists to air defense units and blocked GPS signals.
—Ronen Bergman, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
The Israeli military has halted leave for all combat units and drafted reservists to boost aerial defenses amid fears of an escalation with Iran.
—NBC News, 5 Apr. 2024
Under the stewardship of Alta Global Group Founder and CEO, Nick Langton, the company has evolved from working with MMA gyms and world class fighters to grow into a technology company dedicated to uniting passion and participation in global combat sports through multiple digital platforms.
—Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
Pros: Antifungal ingredients combat yeast infections effectively.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Featuring 30 essential oils, the rosemary oil combats dandruff and lengthens hair.
—Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024
Isaac Bickerstaff, Glamour, 9 Apr. 2024
Its platform also aims to use AI to combat unconscious bias practices that can crop up during the recruitment process.
—Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 9 Apr. 2024
The project outlines ways to boost Muslim representation in TV and film in order to help combat anti-Muslim hate, erasure and stereotypes.
—Leah Dolan, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
The university announced the establishment of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute to combat antisemitism in December.
—Detroit Free Press, 5 Apr. 2024
Berger’s interest in brain electricity was not to combat disease, though that was his day job as a physician, but to find a biological basis for his belief in telepathy.
—Giridhar Kalamangalam, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
Some of the best methods to combat the dangers of rising heat include installing cool pavements, expanding urban green space, painting railway tracks with reflective paint to keep them at operable temperatures, and upgrading cooling systems for public buildings such as schools, the report says.
—Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Devine also told the Journal Sentinel that his priorities include continuing to combat the reckless driving problem and the drug and opioid crisis.
—Adrienne Davis, Journal Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2024
On the occasion of her promotion, Billboard spoke with Ballantyne about her new role, the importance of combatting AI deep fakes, Universal Music Group’s dispute with TikTok and the possible implications of the upcoming presidential election.
—Chris Eggertsen, Billboard, 1 Apr. 2024
Julianne Hilmes Bartlett, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Mar. 2022
In a recent visit to Baghdad to meet with Iraqi leaders, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said U.S. forces are ready to remain in Iraq, in a non-combat role, at the invitation of the government.
—Lolita C. Baldor and Tara Copp, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Mar. 2023
He’s been awarded a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the highest award for non-combat valor.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Feb. 2023
Reed is at least the sixth American killed in Ukraine, including some fighters and some in non-combat roles, The Washington Post reported.
—Brian Amaral, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Feb. 2023
As of 2021, women made up 15% of Taiwan’s military, but serve mostly in non-combat roles, the CIA Factbook says.
—Wayne Chang, CNN, 18 Jan. 2023
In ensuing years, immersing as an artist helped him through post-combat stress disorder.
—Dallas News, 22 Dec. 2022
Ukraine's cause is also boosted by non-combat drones and special equipment, such as the mine-detection technology and medical drones supplied to various NGOs by the Canadian company Draganfly.
—Yuriy Zaliznyak, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2022
The idea of supersonic non-combat aircraft flying for the Pentagon could finally be here.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 20 July 2022
Noun
On the way, her group comes across various tableaus of chaos, social disorder, and bone-rattling combat, observing and documenting—but not intervening, despite the crisis that’s unfolding.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2024
For soldiers killed in combat, this is also when their military tombstone is unveiled.
—Shira Rubin, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
The number of Israeli soldiers killed in combat in Gaza since the start of the war has now surpassed 250.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024
Israel has also placed its military on high alert, according to an Israeli official, canceled leave for combat units, recalled some reservists to air defense units and blocked GPS signals.
—Ronen Bergman, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
The Israeli military has halted leave for all combat units and drafted reservists to boost aerial defenses amid fears of an escalation with Iran.
—NBC News, 5 Apr. 2024
Under the stewardship of Alta Global Group Founder and CEO, Nick Langton, the company has evolved from working with MMA gyms and world class fighters to grow into a technology company dedicated to uniting passion and participation in global combat sports through multiple digital platforms.
—Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
Pros: Antifungal ingredients combat yeast infections effectively.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Featuring 30 essential oils, the rosemary oil combats dandruff and lengthens hair.
—Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024
Verb
Google, Meta, and OpenAI are all pledging to combat deceptive AI election content, while two adverts have been produced by Jesse Dylan, Bob Dylan’s son, to raise awareness for the issue.
—Isaac Bickerstaff, Glamour, 9 Apr. 2024
Its platform also aims to use AI to combat unconscious bias practices that can crop up during the recruitment process.
—Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 9 Apr. 2024
The project outlines ways to boost Muslim representation in TV and film in order to help combat anti-Muslim hate, erasure and stereotypes.
—Leah Dolan, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
The university announced the establishment of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute to combat antisemitism in December.
—Detroit Free Press, 5 Apr. 2024
Berger’s interest in brain electricity was not to combat disease, though that was his day job as a physician, but to find a biological basis for his belief in telepathy.
—Giridhar Kalamangalam, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
Some of the best methods to combat the dangers of rising heat include installing cool pavements, expanding urban green space, painting railway tracks with reflective paint to keep them at operable temperatures, and upgrading cooling systems for public buildings such as schools, the report says.
—Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Devine also told the Journal Sentinel that his priorities include continuing to combat the reckless driving problem and the drug and opioid crisis.
—Adrienne Davis, Journal Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2024
On the occasion of her promotion, Billboard spoke with Ballantyne about her new role, the importance of combatting AI deep fakes, Universal Music Group’s dispute with TikTok and the possible implications of the upcoming presidential election.
—Chris Eggertsen, Billboard, 1 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Players represent the Axis powers and the Allied powers, and in every turn get to make both combat and non-combat moves across the globe as well as decide what military units to build and whether or not to fund research.
—Julianne Hilmes Bartlett, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Mar. 2022
In a recent visit to Baghdad to meet with Iraqi leaders, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said U.S. forces are ready to remain in Iraq, in a non-combat role, at the invitation of the government.
—Lolita C. Baldor and Tara Copp, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Mar. 2023
He’s been awarded a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the highest award for non-combat valor.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Feb. 2023
Reed is at least the sixth American killed in Ukraine, including some fighters and some in non-combat roles, The Washington Post reported.
—Brian Amaral, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Feb. 2023
As of 2021, women made up 15% of Taiwan’s military, but serve mostly in non-combat roles, the CIA Factbook says.
—Wayne Chang, CNN, 18 Jan. 2023
In ensuing years, immersing as an artist helped him through post-combat stress disorder.
—Dallas News, 22 Dec. 2022
Ukraine's cause is also boosted by non-combat drones and special equipment, such as the mine-detection technology and medical drones supplied to various NGOs by the Canadian company Draganfly.
—Yuriy Zaliznyak, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2022
The idea of supersonic non-combat aircraft flying for the Pentagon could finally be here.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 20 July 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'combat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Combat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/combat. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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