Synonyms of scrum

scrum

noun

ˈskrəm 

1

as in throng

a great number of persons or creatures massed together

I had to fight my way through the scrum of holiday shoppers at the mall

Synonyms & Similar Words

• throng
• crowd
• swarm
• flock
• horde
• mob
• army
• multitude
• press
• mass
• legion
• herd
• rout
• bike
• crush
• drove
• masses
• host
• cram
• rabble
• millions
• gaggle
• pile
• mountain
• heap
• rabblement
• jam
• riffraff
• logjam

2

as in skirmish

a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups

when the server spilled a drink on a customer, they got into a bit of a scrum before being separated

Synonyms & Similar Words

• skirmish
• clash
• battle
• fight
• scuffle
• scrimmage
• tussle
• struggle
• brawl
• fray
• dustup
• fracas
• contest
• altercation
• conflict
• combat
• confrontation
• duel
• melee
• scrap
• quarrel
• rough-and-tumble
• spat
• fisticuffs
• fistfight
• dispute
• battle royal
• slugfest
• hassle
• pitched battle
• tangle
• row
• punch-up
• face-off
• blows
• free-for-all
• ruckus
• ruction
• joust
• donnybrook
• mix-up
• contretemps
• affray
• squabble
• tiff
• controversy
• punch-out
• grapple
• broil
• wrangle
• cross fire
• catfight
• kickup
• argy-bargy
• falling-out
• misunderstanding
• argument
• disagreement
• argle-bargle
• handgrips

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• truce

3

as in bedlam

British a place of uproar or confusion

London's tube is quite a scrum during rush hour

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bedlam
• madhouse
• circus
• babel
• three-ring circus
• mess
• commotion
• racket
• pandemonium
• bustle
• ruckus
• din
• chaos
• turmoil
• noise
• brouhaha
• tumult
• clatter
• clamor
• disarray
• disorder
• hubbub
• shambles
• muss
• confusion
• disarrangement
• havoc
• hell

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• organization
• heaven
• utopia
• paradise
• order
• orderliness
• lull
• peace
• calm
• silence
• arcadia
• respite
• quiet
• stillness
• hush

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of scrum

Meanwhile, on the neighboring field, Purdy had finished his initial reps by the time the 49ers’ offense, particularly guards Robert Jones and Dominick Puni, got into a scrum with the Titans. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026

The late strike capped a chippy match that featured seven yellow cards, a red card and a brief scrum in stoppage time that saw one Madison player lose his jersey. — Idaho Statesman, 9 Aug. 2026

Whether or not the music has merit, an artist must contend with the myriad corporate forces that have the power to pick and choose what breaks through the online scrum, and what doesn’t. — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026

Rhaena flees the four-way dragon scrum on foot only to be dragged back by her uncle. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026