combat
Soldiers exchanging fire
Combat is fighting, especially organized armed conflict between military forces.
The word carries more formality than fight: hand-to-hand combat, combat troops, combat zone.
As a verb, to combat something is to fight against it: measures to combat inflation, combating misinformation.
A combat can also be a struggle or contest between opposing forces or ideas.
Organized land-based military
- infantryGround combat troops
- cavalryMounted military force
- artilleryLarge-caliber battlefield weapons
- troopsMilitary personnel collectively
soldiers · marines · navy · deployment · mobilization · reserves · reinforcements · logistics
Armed military engagement
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- assaultViolent offensive act
ambush · siege · campaign · frontline · warzone · trenches · flank · charge
Aid or maintenance
- deploymentOrganized distribution of resources
- tourPlanned multi-destination journey
- homecomingReturning to one's origin
- medalsAwards for achievement
honor · memorial · PTSD · enlistment · discharge · GI · VFW · POW
Killing and wounding
- carnageWidespread violent death
- brutalitySavage, merciless behavior
- slaughterKilling for meat
- killingCausing death deliberately
mayhem · destruction · savagery · fury · havoc · casualties · wounds · injury
Protective combat covering
- shieldHandheld defensive armor
- fortificationStrengthening defenses or nutrients
- barricadeObstacle blocking a path
- bunkerReinforced subterranean stronghold
entrenchment · rampart · bastion · citadel · stronghold · parry · block · guard
Combat sport using fists
- wrestlingCombat sport requiring holds
- fencingCombat with blunted blades
- kendoJapanese bamboo fencing
- sumoJapanese heavyweight wrestling
sparring · pugilism · bout · match · ring · octagon · knockout · submission
Japanese unarmed combat discipline
- taekwondoKorean striking martial art
- judoJapanese throwing discipline
- aikidoThrowing art using redirection
- kungfuChinese martial art
jiujitsu · kickboxing · silat · wushu · sambo · kenjutsu · hapkido · capoeira
Methods to achieve goals
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
- flankingAt the sides of
- encirclementSurrounding enemy forces completely
- feintDeceptive mock attack
reconnaissance · intelligence · camouflage · positioning · formation · ambush · retreat · advance
army
Organized land-based military
troops · soldiers · marines · navy · deployment · mobilization · reserves · reinforcements · logistics · reconnaissance
battle
Armed military engagement
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
assault · ambush · siege · campaign · frontline · warzone · trenches · flank · charge · barrage
service
Aid or maintenance
- deploymentOrganized distribution of resources
- tourPlanned multi-destination journey
- homecomingReturning to one's origin
medals · honor · memorial · PTSD · enlistment · discharge · GI · VFW · POW · MIA
bloodshed
Killing and wounding
killing · mayhem · destruction · savagery · fury · havoc · casualties · wounds · injury · trauma
armor
Protective combat covering
- shieldHandheld defensive armor
- fortificationStrengthening defenses or nutrients
- barricadeObstacle blocking a path
bunker · entrenchment · rampart · bastion · citadel · stronghold · parry · block · guard · protection
boxing
Combat sport using fists
sumo · sparring · pugilism · bout · match · ring · octagon · knockout · submission · referee
karate
Japanese unarmed combat discipline
- taekwondoKorean striking martial art
- judoJapanese throwing discipline
- aikidoThrowing art using redirection
kungfu · jiujitsu · kickboxing · silat · wushu · sambo · kenjutsu · hapkido · capoeira · savate
tactics
Methods to achieve goals
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
- flankingAt the sides of
- encirclementSurrounding enemy forces completely
feint · reconnaissance · intelligence · camouflage · positioning · formation · ambush · retreat · advance · pincer
- aggressionhostility, violence, attack, fight, aggression
- conflictclash, fight, war, battle, dispute
- guerreoffensive, defensive, front, invasion, aviation
- kung fukung fu, wushu, Shaolin, Shaolin Temple, tai chi
- medieval lifechivalry, royal courts, jousting, knighthood, falconry
- Military Powerarmy, navy, air force, marines, troops
combatsurrender
Cease resistance, yield
submit · capitulate · yield · capitulation · submission
- combat bootsRugged military footwear
- close combatFighting at short range
- hand-to-hand combatFighting without distance weapons
- combat operationPlanned armed forces engagement
- combat zoneActive military conflict area
- combat medicMilitary first responder
combative, combat air patrol, combatant, combats, combatting, combatted, combating, combativeness, combatants