as in skirmish
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
several chairs were knocked over in the scuffle
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to shuffle
to move heavily or clumsily
she scuffled along in shoes that were much too large for her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to wrestle
to seize and attempt to unbalance one another for the purpose of achieving physical mastery
the burglar and the homeowner briefly scuffled together in the dark
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of scuffle
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2025
Lo overhears a scuffle in the cabin next door and a distinct splash in the freezing ocean waters.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
Stephane Mahe, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Three years later, Denver hired Cain as a pass-rush specialist, reuniting him with Bonitto as the young Bronco was scuffling through his second NFL season.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scuffle
Noun
After an unintended encounter with a furtive woman (Gitte Witt) in cabin 10, the one next to Lo’s, the reporter hears a violent scuffle through the walls, followed by a splash.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2025
Lo overhears a scuffle in the cabin next door and a distinct splash in the freezing ocean waters.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
In Montpellier, in the southwest, police scuffled with protesters who had set up a barricade to block traffic at a roundabout.
—Stephane Mahe, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Three years later, Denver hired Cain as a pass-rush specialist, reuniting him with Bonitto as the young Bronco was scuffling through his second NFL season.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scuffle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scuffle
Noun
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Amazon Prime commentator Kirk Herbstreit said as a guess at Rodgers' response to Jones, as footage of the sideline near-skirmish played for viewers.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
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The decision was the latest skirmish in a years-long political and legal wrangle over voting requirements for local tax increase proposals.—
Dan Walters,
Oc Register,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The doctor grunted, shuffled off.—
Sam Lipsyte,
New Yorker,
19 Oct. 2025
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Mazzulla could shuffle his starting five from game to game, too, based on matchups and other factors.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Horne first entered the ring in 1991 and later wrestled for WWE from 1993 until 1996, briefly winning the promotion’s tag team championship in March 1994 alongside the wrestler Mabel.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
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Any country whose currency, unlike the dollar, is not wanted by others to park extra cash, must wrestle with exchange rates.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Relations between the two economies had been cool since deadly border clashes in 2020.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
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In that sense, by hosting Muttaqi, Delhi may have deepened the growing rupture between Afghanistan and Pakistan that was on display during the recent border clashes.—
Happymon Jacob,
Time,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Most people don’t accidentally stumble into building a multimillion-dollar empire.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The trio stumbles upon a crucial piece of evidence - and promptly compromises it.—
Billie Melissa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The line occurs when the film’s protagonist, Ripley (Weaver), emerges from an elevator in a giant metal bodysuit, ready to fight a terrifying alien to save a young child.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
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Season-long struggles; still fighting Charlotte has five games left on the schedule, starting with North Texas (6-1, 2-1 American) next Friday night on ESPN2.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Lima, Peru Reuters — Peru’s President Jose Jeri declared on Tuesday a 30-day state of emergency in the capital Lima and the neighboring province of Callao, saying the move was to battle rising crime.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
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Hubbard has a track record of moving the chains effectively, which was necessary in a game that was going to be mostly a defensive battle.—
Mike Kaye
October 21,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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When Empower Field hosted the CONCACAF Nations League final between the United States and Mexico in 2021, the building stomped and shook like a Saturday at College Station, Texas, or Madison, Wis.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
15 Oct. 2025
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Shortly after, another group of gunmen, without any face coverings, arrived at the site, stomped their feet, and stood in a grid formation.—
Yamiche Alcindor,
NBC news,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scuffle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scuffle. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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