as in clash
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
a small tussle on the basketball court was quickly broken up
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to wrestle
to seize and attempt to unbalance one another for the purpose of achieving physical mastery
puppies tussling with one another, rolling over and over on the carpet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tussle
Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
In later years Coe had serious tussles with the IRS, causing debt, bankruptcy and the lost of publishing rights to even his biggest hits.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2026
Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 10 Apr. 2026
The officer then shoved Phillips, who tussled with the officer and took him to the ground.
—David Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tussle
Noun
Officials report thousands of honeybees died during the event, due to the tussle between Woods and the deputies, and female honeybees dying after using their stingers.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
In later years Coe had serious tussles with the IRS, causing debt, bankruptcy and the lost of publishing rights to even his biggest hits.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
Vanderbilt, who verbally tussled with Redick on Tuesday after playing just five minutes and receiving an early hook in the second quarter, played a team-high 25 minutes off the bench, contributing six rebounds and five assists.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 10 Apr. 2026
The officer then shoved Phillips, who tussled with the officer and took him to the ground.
—David Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tussle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tussle
Noun
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What started as a simple explanation about unplugging on flights quickly turned into a comedic clash of generations when Sherry Cola’s choice of words left Harrison Ford out of the loop.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
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Despite a ceasefire between the pair, there have been clashes this week in the strait, with US forces carrying out air strikes on two empty Iranian oil tankers.—
Ellen Milligan,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
Verb
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At which point Fouracres, reprising his role as Attenborough, ran onto the stage dressed in WWE-style spandex and began wrestling with Animashaun.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
9 May 2026
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Ivelisse Garcia Santana said her grandson Jeury Concepcion needed several stitches after ICE agents wrestled him to the ground.—
Adi Guajardo,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
Noun
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The May 9 event was shaken the day before by a political skirmish that, for the first time, spilled into the proceedings.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
10 May 2026
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Reigns tried to avoid it during their skirmish on Monday.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
Verb
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In one scene in the novel, a black ram named Othello, who lives in misery in a carnival, forced to fight dogs, is visited in his pen by a strange ram bearing advice.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
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Trump has gone back and forth over whether the war will end, at times expressing optimism and at other times saying Russia and Ukraine should be left to fight it out to the bitter end.—
Darlene Superville,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Noun
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The project is particularly acrimonious, drawing out geographical battles between north and south and thorny fights between officials who want to build the tunnel and environmentalists and Delta residents seeking to protect the local ecosystem and their way of life.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
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Without losing a man or a ship, Dewey’s squadron destroyed the Spanish fleet in the first American naval battle against a foreign power in almost five decades.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
Noun
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Tempers flared in the third, with Parker Kelly getting into a scuffle with Matt Boldy and hitting the linesman with his glove.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
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During the scuffle, the victim’s gold chain was yanked from his neck.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
Noun
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With another o-for in the books, the impending free agent declined to talk about his struggles following Monday’s game.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
12 May 2026
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In the aftermath, Mad's sister, Annabel, becomes a recluse, and Mad struggles to keep the family's bar afloat as the sisters become the center of damaging gossip.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tussle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tussle. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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