fighting
adjective
fight·ing ˈfī-tiŋ 
1
: designed, intended, or trained to fight in combat
a fighting ship
a powerful fighting force
fighting men
2
: fit to fight
a boxer in fighting condition
3
: having or showing a readiness to fight : aggressive
What he does is break down the fighting spirit, not to mention the bodies, of his opponents.—
The New York Times
see also fighting chance, fighting word The New York Times
Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing fighting
fighting 1 of 3
adjective
as in battling
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- battling
- warring
- cross
- savage
- testy
- ornery
- vicious
- hostile
- ugly
- irritable
- peevish
- fretful
- disagreeable
- dyspeptic
- petulant
- bilious
- fractious
- antagonistic
- combative
- bristly
- grumpy
- irascible
- waspish
- acidic
- snappish
- surly
- touchy
- choleric
- querulous
- grouchy
- bearish
- huffy
- crabby
- stroppy
- belligerent
- confrontational
- warlike
- ill-tempered
- pettish
- militant
- aggressive
- assaultive
- gladiatorial
- feisty
- pugnacious
- bellicose
- cranky
- prickly
- quarrelsome
- fierce
- ill-humored
- agonistic
- brawly
- scrappy
- chippy
- ill-natured
- argumentative
- contentious
- hot-tempered
- snappy
- rude
- disputatious
- discordant
- truculent
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- peaceful
- peaceable
- pacific
- uncombative
- nonbelligerent
- nonaggressive
- antimilitarist
- conciliatory
- benevolent
- friendly
- pleasant
- unwarlike
- quiet
- calm
- unbelligerent
- ingratiating
- cordial
- obliging
- sociable
- amiable
- amicable
- gracious
- complaisant
- genial
- uncontentious
- easygoing
- mild
- relaxed
- kindhearted
- anti-imperialist
- affable
- tranquil
- gentle
- serene
- kindly
- benign
- good-natured
- good-tempered
fighting
2 of 3noun
as in combat
Synonyms & Similar Words
- combat
- warfare
- battle
- skirmish
- war
- action
- engagement
- world war
- civil war
- cold war
- hostilities
- conflict
- police action
- holy war
- limited war
- conflagration
- hot war
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- peace
- disarmament
- demobilization
- demilitarization
- pacification
- truce
- tranquility
- calm
- peacefulness
- tranquillity
- cease-fire
fighting
3 of 3verb
1
as in combating
to oppose (someone) in physical conflict a proud people who have fiercely fought all invaders of their homeland Synonyms & Similar Words
- battling
- combating
- combatting
- dueling
- beating
- wrestling
- punching
- hitting
- duelling
- knocking
- slapping
- jousting
- skirmishing (with)
- boxing
- sparring
- clashing (with)
- slugging
- pounding
- battering
- scrimmaging (with)
- brawling
- smacking
- banging
- bashing
- whacking
- hammering
- slamming
- striking
- thumping
- smiting
- tussling
- warring (against)
- bopping
- slogging
- swatting
- buffeting
- grappling
- swiping
- socking
- bludgeoning
- whaling
- batting
- bumping
- scuffling
- clobbering
- pasting
- belting
- thwacking
- walloping
- colliding
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- submitting
- surrendering
- giving up
2
as in opposing
to strive to reduce or eliminate a civil rights leader who dedicated his life to fighting prejudice Synonyms & Similar Words
- opposing
- combating
- combatting
- battling
- countering
- resisting
- confronting
- oppugning
- withstanding
- thwarting
- checkmating
- facing
- contending (with)
- frustrating
- foiling
- baffling
- defying
- meeting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- promoting
- advancing
- cultivating
- encouraging
- fostering
- suffering
- furthering
- supporting
- advocating
- enduring
- bearing
- forwarding
- nurturing
- upholding
- nourishing
- abiding
- backing
- endorsing
- championing
- indorsing
3
as in competing
to engage in a contest everyone on that street seems to be fighting to see who can create the gaudiest holiday lighting display Synonyms & Similar Words
- competing
- contending
- battling
- racing
- vying
- rivaling
- facing off
- playing
- rivalling
- jockeying
- maneuvering
- jostling
- challenging
- engaging
- training
- working
- trying out
- going out
4
as in bickering
to express different opinions about something often angrily if you kids continue to fight, I'm turning this car around and we're heading back home! Synonyms & Similar Words
- bickering
- arguing
- quarreling
- brawling
- clashing
- wrangling
- quarrelling
- squabbling
- spatting
- debating
- disputing
- scrapping
- discussing
- hassling
- altercating
- quibbling
- tiffing
- rowing
- controverting
- argufying
- brabbling
- falling out
- contending
- contesting
- locking horns
- butting heads
- jarring
- bandying words
- protesting
- tangling
- kicking
- mixing it up
- challenging
- fussing
- daring
- defying
- nitpicking
- objecting
- considering
- caviling
- cavilling
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- coexisting
- getting along
- accepting
- agreeing
- consenting
- concurring
- assenting
5
as in resisting
to refuse to give in to I tried to fight the temptation to eat another cookie—and lost Synonyms & Similar Words
- resisting
- opposing
- withstanding
- combating
- repelling
- battling
- combatting
- bucking
- defying
- contesting
- countering
- thwarting
- challenging
- stemming
- contradicting
- disputing
- hindering
- balking
- frustrating
- foiling
- obstructing
- checking
- baffling
- contending (with)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- yielding (to)
- submitting (to)
- succumbing (to)
- bowing (to)
- surrendering (to)
- stooping (to)
- giving in (to)
- capitulating (to)
- knuckling under (to)