as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the playful competition over who would get the new office turned into a real dogfight
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Recent Examples of dogfight
Harris and Trump in a ‘dogfight’ in the election’s final stretch
Former President Donald Trump; Vice President Kamala Harris.
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Kaylah Jackson, NBC News, 3 Sep. 2024
The two compelling actors play herders struggling to get by in the muddy hills of west Ireland, where a longtime feud between their families degenerates into an all-out dogfight (or is that a sheep-fight?).
—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
The Zero had proved more maneuverable than Allied planes, so engineers built a Frankenstein-like replica and sent it on mock dogfights over Brisbane, to reveal the Zero’s strengths and weaknesses, including how to outmaneuver it by maintaining higher speed and altitude.
—Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Sep. 2024
Its claims were undermined by the 1990–91 Persian Gulf War, which featured few dogfights but many attack missions on Iraqi ground positions.
—Michael W. Hankins, Foreign Affairs, 22 Feb. 2022
See all Example Sentences for dogfight 
Kaylah Jackson, NBC News, 3 Sep. 2024
The two compelling actors play herders struggling to get by in the muddy hills of west Ireland, where a longtime feud between their families degenerates into an all-out dogfight (or is that a sheep-fight?).
—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
The Zero had proved more maneuverable than Allied planes, so engineers built a Frankenstein-like replica and sent it on mock dogfights over Brisbane, to reveal the Zero’s strengths and weaknesses, including how to outmaneuver it by maintaining higher speed and altitude.
—Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Sep. 2024
Its claims were undermined by the 1990–91 Persian Gulf War, which featured few dogfights but many attack missions on Iraqi ground positions.
—Michael W. Hankins, Foreign Affairs, 22 Feb. 2022
See all Example Sentences for dogfight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dogfight
Noun
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After years of rivalry and a stint in a psychiatric ward, Sharp sets out to get revenge on Ashton for stealing her fiancé, while Ashton seeks the secret to lasting youth.Emily Burns, WWD, 17 Dec. 2024
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Macchio returned as Daniel in the TV series Cobra Kai, where his rivalry with longtime opponent Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) is reignited 35 years later.Jen Juneau, People.com, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Therefore, in a sense, the battle to finish second is almost the most interesting thing — and these days, that’s usually Real Madrid.Michael Cox, The Athletic, 21 Dec. 2024
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His success at the battle paved the way for subsequent victories that would eventually lead to the downfall of the Persian Achaemenid Empire.Newsweek, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | Getty Images Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai is challenging Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to an AI duel.Jennifer Elias, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2024
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The bouts were true Mexican boxing classics that left both fighters physically scarred, as neither of them was the same after those three duels in the span of a year.Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Once the initial shock subsides, Kit and Theo decide this is the perfect opportunity to prove who won the breakup – with a hookup competition.Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024
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The campaign came ahead of the 37th America’s Cup sailing competition, which took place in Barcelona in the fall.Luisa Zargani, WWD, 19 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The Peace of Christmas Eve in 1814 ended an era of warfare between Britain and the United States.William Lambers, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Dec. 2024
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Sure, there is injustice, class warfare, and strong intelligent women chafing within the strict confines of traditional binary gender roles.Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 24 Dec. 2024
Noun
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After a brief struggle, the man pulled out a gun and shot Horan, before leaving the scene by car at about 11 a.m., according to a news release from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI).Alexandra Koch, Fox News, 24 Dec. 2024
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Winter is in full swing in the Gaza Strip, and every day is a struggle to survive for children displaced by violence and living in makeshift tents.Sarah Ferguson, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Presidents have tapped the stockpile to calm oil markets during war or when hurricanes hit oil infrastructure along the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss and Lisa Pauline Mattackal, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
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This year, the 31-meter-tall tree and the decorations dedicated to the Christmas miracle were made possible privately by patrons, without government funds as the war with Russia continues.Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Zoom in: Trump is sparking a confrontation with his closest allies in Congress, with Johnson caught in the middle.Justin Green, Axios, 20 Dec. 2024
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Garrido was caught on camera leaving a nearby restaurant before his confrontation with the traffic agent.Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 20 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near dogfight
Cite this Entry
“Dogfight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dogfight. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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