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
Relevance
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
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tussle
Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 18 Nov. 2024
Amid a widening gap between AI players in the U.S. and the rest of the market, and CEOs’ ongoing tussles over regulation in Europe, businesses on the continent leveraging AI to find efficiencies represent the best chance of Europe closing the gap with the States.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 23 Oct. 2024
Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 17 Nov. 2024
But, as groups tussled for a slice of the pie, local tensions flared, writes historian Eiichiro Azuma.
—H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 1 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for tussle 
Noun
After a legal tussle to sever the naming rights deal, the Astros settled with Enron—paying the beleaguered company $2.1 million in the process—and signed a new deal with Minute Maid, which is based in Houston.
—Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 18 Nov. 2024
Amid a widening gap between AI players in the U.S. and the rest of the market, and CEOs’ ongoing tussles over regulation in Europe, businesses on the continent leveraging AI to find efficiencies represent the best chance of Europe closing the gap with the States.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 23 Oct. 2024
Verb
Hawks defenseman Wyatt Kaiser tussled with Canucks counterpart Erik Brännström, and Kaiser was tagged with a roughing penalty.
—Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 17 Nov. 2024
But, as groups tussled for a slice of the pie, local tensions flared, writes historian Eiichiro Azuma.
—H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 1 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for tussle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tussle
Noun
-
In addition to engaging in regular border clashes with Israel, the group has supported Bashar al-Assad in his decimation of Syrian rebels and has been accused of assassinating Lebanese political figures who oppose Syrian or Iranian influence in the country.Youmna Melhem Chamieh, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025
-
This, as increasing pressures on directors to become more engaged clash with related concerns of executives with board micromanagement.Michael Peregrine, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Incoming Trump officials are now wrestling with the logistics — to say nothing of the financial burden — of rounding up and removing that population size.Christopher White, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2025
-
City and state transportation planners have been wrestling with how to contain traffic, looking to public transit and densification — by encouraging more housing concentrated around bus and train hubs — so that workers don’t have to drive as much.Bruce Finley, The Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The ugly scene on a suburban street was a harbinger of skirmishes to come.Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025
-
Houston teammates then ran in to defend their teammate, as well, leading to a skirmish that spilled out of bounds while Lawrence remained on the turf, still on his back, as medical personnel tended to him.Andrew Greif, NBC News, 1 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
But TikTok has fought the law at every turn, arguing that the U.S. government is overstepping its bounds by attempting to regulate foreign ownership of a private company.Nik Popli, TIME, 9 Jan. 2025
-
In addition to the Sunset Fire, crews are fighting to contain the rapidly spreading Palisades and Eaton fires, as well as the Hurst, Lidia and Woodley blazes.Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Osbourne didn't share much about her treatment, but this update comes on the heels of her recent battle with a high fever over the holidays.Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
-
For the past two and a half years, the battle for the future of L.A.’s Fairfax Avenue corridor has been raging between economic powerhouses.David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
And the former coach believes Leftwich became the scapegoat for the Buccaneers’ struggles.Mike Jones, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
-
Ian Cramer's Drug Use The sentencing hearing largely centered on Ian Cramer's struggles with addiction and mental health.George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near tussle
Cite this Entry
“Tussle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tussle. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share