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to fight or struggle against someone or something
The government is taking measures to combat corruption.
The government is actively working to reduce or eliminate corruption.
She learned martial arts to combat bullying in school.
She studied self-defense techniques to address and stop bullying.
Often used in formal or serious contexts, such as law enforcement, health, or social issues.
a fight or struggle, especially during a war
The combat lasted for three days before the enemy retreated.
The battle continued for three days until the opposing forces withdrew.
Refers specifically to active fighting in a military context.
'Combat' and 'comma' sound similar but have entirely different meanings. Remember: 'combat' relates to fighting (think 'battle'), while 'comma' is a punctuation mark.
Prefer 'combat' when describing an active effort to overcome something challenging, especially in formal or serious contexts. For general resistance, 'fight' or 'struggle' may be more appropriate.
From Old French 'combat' (battle), from Latin 'combattere' (to fight together), from 'com-' (together) + 'battere' (to beat, strike). The word entered English in the 16th century, initially in a military context.
While 'combat' often implies physical conflict, it can also be used metaphorically for any intense struggle (e.g., 'combat climate change'). In modern usage, it is frequently paired with terms like 'mental health' or 'disease' to describe efforts to overcome non-physical challenges.