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pitched battle
noun
: an intensely fought battle in which the opposing forces are locked in close combat
Examples of pitched battle in a Sentence
She has been in a pitched battle with her ex-husband over custody of their children.
Recent Examples on the Web
Over the weekend, pitched battles occured along Venezuela’s borders with Colombia and Brazil, as forces loyal to Maduro blocked humanitarian convoys from entering their country.
—Ivan Briscoe, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2019
Only a few years ago, by contrast, the chief threat was not just irregular terrorism but also rocket and sniper attacks, kidnappings, drive-by shootings, and pitched battles in the streets.
—Antony J. Blinken, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2012
Parents and teachers on hand for the first day of school said the program was a welcome creation, allowing children to have a semblance of a normal education and social interaction with other students, even as Russian and Ukrainian troops fight pitched battles in the region.
—Heidi Levine, Washington Post, 5 Sep. 2023
The history of Hollywood is, if nothing else, a 100 Years’ War between corporate interests and creative instincts, and that pitched battle, for all its lamentable casualties, has produced the most influential cultural economy on Earth.
—Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2023
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Word History
First Known Use
circa 1616, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of pitched battle was
circa 1616
Dictionary Entries Near pitched battle
Cite this Entry
“Pitched battle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pitched%20battle. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
pitched battle
nounˈpich(t)-
: a fiercely fought battle in which the opposing forces are locked in close combat
More from Merriam-Webster on pitched battle
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for pitched battle
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