Word
combating
Phoneticscom·bat·ing
US/kəmˈbætɪŋ/
UK/kˈɒmbætɪŋ/
Definition
v. taking action to stop something bad from happening or getting worse. You use it when talking about fighting problems like crime, disease, or climate change.
v. taking active steps to reduce, stop, or defeat something harmful. Present participle of 'combat'; functions as the head of a verb phrase or as a gerund.
Examples
“The government is combating rising inflation with new laws.”
“Scientists are currently combating the spread of the virus by developing more effective vaccines and treatments.”
“Successfully combating systemic poverty requires more than just financial aid; it demands a comprehensive restructuring of educational and social support systems to ensure long-term stability for the most vulnerable populations.”
Examples
simple
“The government is combating rising inflation with new laws.”
contextual
“Scientists are currently combating the spread of the virus by developing more effective vaccines and treatments.”
complex
“Successfully combating systemic poverty requires more than just financial aid; it demands a comprehensive restructuring of educational and social support systems to ensure long-term stability for the most vulnerable populations.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object representing the problem or opponent being fought.
Pitfall
combating against the problem
combating the problem
Combat is a transitive verb; it does not take the preposition 'against' like the verb 'fight' sometimes does.
Real-World Examples
“Her popular Esea art outreach programme encourages east and south-east Asian residents over 50 to create art, combating loneliness and providing an opportunity for migrants to speak their native language.” “All three clubs have defended their actions and point to successes in combating the illegal reselling of tickets.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/combating