v. 1 contend (with), battle, conflict (with), encounter, war (against), engage, clash, take up arms (against), feud (with), combat, bear or take up arms (against), brawl, struggle or strive (with or against), cross swords (with), close (with), come to or exchange blows (with), go to or wage war (with or against), joust (with), grapple or wrestle (with), skirmish (with), tussle or scuffle (with or against); box, spar; Old-fashioned broil He offered to fight anyone in the place Why are the boys always fighting? 2 dispute, question, confront, contest, oppose, contradict, defy, confute, protest, resist, rail or struggle, against, withstand, refute, oppugn, make or take a stand against, contravene, confound He has sworn to fight prejudice wherever he finds it 3 rise up, make or take a stand, struggle, take up arms It is better to fight for the good than to rail at the ill 4 argue, dispute, bicker, quarrel, wrangle, squabble, spat, tiff, fall out (over), have words, disagree, row, altercate, debate I hear the neighbours fight every night 5 fight off. repel, repulse Prepare to fight off anyone trying to come over the side! 6 fight shy of avoid, keep or remain aloof from or of, keep away from She usually fights shy of going to cocktail parties
n. 7 battle, conflict, bout, duel, (single) combat, monomachy, one-on-one, action, warfare, clash, hostilities, war, match, struggle, engagement, meeting, encounter, contest, fighting, brawl, Donnybrook, affray, fray, fracas, disturbance, riot, row, mêlée or melee, tussle, scuffle, scrimmage, skirmish, brush, Colloq free-for-all, set-to, scrap, Brit scrum, bovver, Slang US rumble, Old-fashioned broil Three policeman were injured in the hour-long fight 8 altercation, argument, quarrel, feud, dispute, run-in, disagreement, dissension, dissidence, dissent, difference (of opinion), squabble, bickering, spat, misunderstanding, row, discord, Colloq ruckus Such fights between husband and wife happen all the time 9 pugnacity, mettle, militancy, belligerence, truculence, spirit, pluck, zeal, enthusiasm, zest She had enough fight left in her to go on to win