tussle

¹tus·sle

noun \ˈtə-səl\

Definition of TUSSLE

1

: a physical contest or struggle : scuffle

2

: an intense argument, controversy, or struggle

Examples of TUSSLE

1. The suspect was arrested after a tussle with a security guard.
2. a tussle for control of the company
3. The President is in for another tussle with Congress.

First Known Use of TUSSLE

1629

Related to TUSSLE

Synonyms

battle, clash, combat, conflict, contest, dustup, fracas, fray, hassle, scrap, scrimmage, scrum, scuffle, skirmish, struggle, fight

Related Words

pitched battle, rough-and-tumble; affray [chiefly British], battle royal, brawl, broil, donnybrook, free-for-all, melee (also mêlée), mix-up, ruckus, ruction; blows, fistfight, fisticuffs, grapple, handgrips, punch-out, punch-up [chiefly British], slugfest; confrontation, duel, face-off, joust; altercation, argle-bargle [chiefly British], argument, argy-bargy [chiefly British], contretemps, controversy, cross fire, disagreement, dispute, falling-out, kickup, misunderstanding, quarrel, row, spat, squabble, tangle, tiff, wrangle; catfight

Near Antonyms

truce

Rhymes with TUSSLE

bustle, hustle, muscle, mussel, rustle

²tussle

intransitive verb

tus·sledtus·sling \-s(ə-)liŋ\

Definition of TUSSLE

: to struggle roughly : scuffle

Examples of TUSSLE

1. The two basketball players tussled for the ball.
2. The residents of the neighborhood tussled with city hall for years about the broken parking meters.

Origin of TUSSLE

Middle English (Scots) tussillen, frequentative of Middle English -tusen, -tousen to tousle — more at touse

First Known Use: 1638

Related to TUSSLE

Synonyms

grapple, rassle, scuffle, wrestle

Related Words

battle, clash (with), combat, contend, duel, fight, war (against); bash, batter, beat, buffet, hit, punch, slug, strike; box, spar; brawl, skirmish

Rhymes with TUSSLE

bustle, hustle, muscle, rustle