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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of scuffle
Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 1 Dec. 2024
Protesters gathered and blocked roads in several other spots across the country, and Israeli TV stations showed images of police scuffling with protesters.
—Josef Federman, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Nov. 2024
That theft charge was later dropped Within seconds of arrival, an officer grabbed McAlpin, who is deaf and has cerebral palsy, and the men scuffled.
—Emily Palmer, People.com, 17 Oct. 2024
Protesters also arrived at the legislature, where some scuffled with security forces.
—Stella Kim, NBC News, 5 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for scuffle 
Verb
Ohio State Buckeyes players scuffle with Michigan Wolverines players on Saturday in Columbus, Ohio.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 1 Dec. 2024
Protesters gathered and blocked roads in several other spots across the country, and Israeli TV stations showed images of police scuffling with protesters.
—Josef Federman, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Nov. 2024
That theft charge was later dropped Within seconds of arrival, an officer grabbed McAlpin, who is deaf and has cerebral palsy, and the men scuffled.
—Emily Palmer, People.com, 17 Oct. 2024
Protesters also arrived at the legislature, where some scuffled with security forces.
—Stella Kim, NBC News, 5 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for scuffle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scuffle
Noun
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Navigating the map from an overworld view, akin to looking at a tabletop game from above, leads to quicker, bite-sized skirmishes, optional short objectives, and requests from characters that build up your bonds.—
Diego Argüello,
Rolling Stone,
13 Jan. 2025
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There’s usually not even time for trash talk between opponents; that has to wait for the inevitable post-whistle skirmish.—
Mark Lazerus,
The Athletic,
9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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As he’s been awaiting trial in Charlotte since his arrest in 2012 on a first-degree murder charge, Perkins has been shuffled between the Mecklenburg County jail, Broughton Hospital, Central Prison, and Central Regional Hospital dozens of times.—
Kallie Cox,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Jan. 2025
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Players can shuffle and rearrange the board of words to help them with guessing the connections.—
Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell,
Newsweek,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Right-wing Trump fans like podcast host Joe Rogan and wrestling titan Dana White also enjoyed prime spots.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
20 Jan. 2025
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For decades, American women’s basketball players have wrestled with career decisions every winter: Stay home to recuperate, work on marketing deals and spend time with family or spend winters abroad in Russia, China, Turkey, Italy, Israel and Spain.—
Ben Pickman,
The Athletic,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Venus and Jupiter’s clash facilitates temporary compromises.—
USA TODAY,
USA TODAY,
14 Jan. 2025
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Israel’s populist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has largely avoided public clashes with the Israel Defense Force’s leadership, but politicians in his orbit have regularly attacked top officers as elites bent on subverting the will of the people.—
Ronald R. Krebs,
Foreign Affairs,
14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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When the 'lightbulb went off' The stars aligned when one day in 1984, Ho stumbled upon a vast piece of coastal land in Bang Tao Bay in Phuket, Thailand.—
Ernestine Siu,
CNBC,
23 Jan. 2025
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Matthias Schmidt, founder of Schmidt Automotive Research, said BYD’s plans for Germany have stumbled as EV sales slumped after government incentives were removed.—
Neil Winton,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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But Wong fought his case all the way to the Supreme Court, which ruled on March 28, 1898, that the 14th Amendment guaranteed U.S. citizenship to Wong and any other person born on U.S. soil.—
Russell Contreras,
Axios,
21 Jan. 2025
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Despite the order from Biden, 82, both Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and now-President Trump, 78, fought to have the flags raised for the inauguration, which fell within the 30-day mourning period.—
Lizzie Hyman,
People.com,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Rose served in the band from its inception in 1977 to 2017, after Willis regained 50 percent of the copyright to the band in a protracted legal battle.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
20 Jan. 2025
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In a YouTube video released in October, Jake Paul announced his endorsement for Trump for the 2024 election and drew a bold comparison between the president-elect's legal battles and the historic struggles of America's Founding Fathers.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
20 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Now, a group of penguins in Australia are stomping all over their love-bird reputation through cheating scandals and divorce — and wildlife experts are worried.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
21 Jan. 2025
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The Ravens stomped the visiting Bills, 35-10, in Week 4.—
Jeff Howe,
The Athletic,
16 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near scuffle
Cite this Entry
“Scuffle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scuffle. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.
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