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as in clash
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
throughout the week of the convention, police engaged in skirmishes with some of the demonstrators
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
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as in to prospect
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skirmish
Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
Protesters and police skirmished in Georgia’s capital for a fourth straight night on Dec. 1, with signs that opposition was spreading across the country to the government’s decision to suspend talks on joining the European Union.
—Felix Light, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Dec. 2024
David Martin
june 15, CBS News, 15 June 2025
The couple sought damages after Sanderlin, while trying to calm tensions between a crowd of demonstrators and a police skirmish line, was shot in the groin with a police projectile by an officer near City Hall on the afternoon of May 29, 2020.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for skirmish
Noun
The defense consultant Serge Willoughby plays a prank on his host at a Georgetown party that completely backfires to the point that not only is the host arrested but also skirmishing between the United States and China begins and World War III looms.
—Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
Protesters and police skirmished in Georgia’s capital for a fourth straight night on Dec. 1, with signs that opposition was spreading across the country to the government’s decision to suspend talks on joining the European Union.
—Felix Light, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
Through 1,300 battles and skirmishes, the Army had outlasted the British Empire.
—David Martin
june 15, CBS News, 15 June 2025
The couple sought damages after Sanderlin, while trying to calm tensions between a crowd of demonstrators and a police skirmish line, was shot in the groin with a police projectile by an officer near City Hall on the afternoon of May 29, 2020.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for skirmish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skirmish
Noun
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Plant, then 18, had a brief but powerful encounter with the princess that sparked her lifelong mission to honor Diana’s legacy.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
28 June 2025
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But policing experts say the aggressive approach is provoking unnecessarily dangerous encounters.—
Lauren Villagran,
USA Today,
28 June 2025
Noun
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In many ways, the game might offer a blueprint for the quarterfinal clash against Paris Saint-Germain.—
Manuel Veth,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
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Speaking in a press conference ahead of his team’s Club World Cup round-of-16 clash with Benfica in Charlotte, Maresca voiced a similar sentiment.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
Verb
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The border state had been rife with turmoil as secessionists street brawled with unionists about whose side Maryland should join.—
Zaakir Tameez
June 11,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2025
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When the Giants brawled with each other last Thursday, some NFL sources marveled that the Giants were even practicing hard enough to prompt a fight during OTAs, which are voluntary spring practices used to acclimate teams for the summer grind of training camp.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
10 June 2025
Verb
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The Oilers acquiring either man wouldn’t be necessary should Bowman successfully sign Oilers prospect Maxim Berezkin out of the KHL this summer.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
22 June 2025
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Still, there’s one woman whose prospects Lucy despairs of.—
Jocelyn Noveck,
Boston Herald,
13 June 2025
Noun
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That same month, Adams withdrew his candidacy for the Democratic primary, saying the legal battle had prevented him from effectively campaigning.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
25 June 2025
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While the legal battle is ongoing, the judge's ruling is an early win for the states and a setback for the Trump administration.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
25 June 2025
Verb
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And while the Mets will probably prioritize an additional arm or two at the trade deadline, Sammon believes the team is likely probing an infield trade as well.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 June 2025
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No arrests were filed as members of the NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad probed the crash.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
21 June 2025
Noun
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The result of that fight was Paul's first and only pro loss, dropping a split decision to Fury.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
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Then, in 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that federal courts do not have a role to play in deciding legal fights over partisan gerrymandering, when state's voting lines are drawn to entrench the political party in power.—
June 27,
CBS News,
27 June 2025
Verb
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Companies that stop exploring eventually watch others in their field eat their lunch.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
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Integrating Information and Imaging the Brain Another way to explore the development of consciousness is to check for brain activity associated with this state in adulthood with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).—
Christian Wolf,
Scientific American,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Skirmish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skirmish. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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