| DEFEAT | Loss of battle or game |
| DUEL | From an old poetic word for "war" and Latin for "two", a single wager of battle or trial by combat; an affaire d'honneur or monomachy; or, any contest or struggle between two (4) |
| SPAR | A boxing match, cockfight, mock battle or quarrel; a friend or pal; a mast or other nautical pole; or, a rafter (4) |
| AFFAIR | Word, from "to do" and "ado", for any business, concern, happening or matter; a grande passion, illicit liaison or romantic intrigue; a minor battle; or, any vaguely specified object or thing (6) |
| CHESSSET | Black-and-white board complete with a miniature army of Staunton "men" for a grandmaster's game, chequered battle or strategic match of wits (5,3) |
| SALVO | A simultaneous discharge of artillery or other guns in battle or military ceremonies (5) |
| BETROTHAL | Find hospital in the midst of terrible battle or engagement (9) |
| BULLRUN | Site of two important Civil War battles - or a description of a Pamplona event? |
| OPERASTAR | Kathleen Battle or Luciano Pavarotti |
| ACTION | Battle or lawsuit, maybe (6) |
| ENGAGEMENT | Date, battle, or betrothal (10) |
| WAR | More than a battle or two |
| AXE | Battle or pick follower |
| SHIP | Battle or friend |
| ARMAGEDDON | Terrible battle or war (10) |
| COMBATANTS | Those who fight in a battle or war (10) |
| UNDERARMS | Prepared for battle or war (5,4) |
| DIVA | Battle or Sills |
| TRIUMPHANT | Having won a battle or contest (10) |
| RETAKE | Capture again, as in battle (or on camera) (6) |
