A custody battle can be a traumatic and emotional experience, and finding the right words to describe it can add to the stress. Here are some synonyms for custody battle that can be used to make it easier to talk or write about this difficult situation: child custody dispute, custody conflict, custody contest, custody litigation, custody showdown, custody war, parental rights battle, and child custody fight. Each term has its own nuance, but they all refer to the legal dispute that arises when two parents cannot agree on who should have custody of their child or children.