Definition of SKIRMISH

Examples of skirmish in a Sentence

Noun

Skirmishes broke out between rebel groups. Violent skirmishes with the enemy continue despite talks of peace.

Verb

Rebel groups are skirmishing with military forces. The presidential candidates skirmished over their economic plans.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

That has set up a legal skirmish between the U.S. and China, as Washington seeks Ms. Meng’s extradition to face charges stemming from alleged violations of sanctions against Iran. — Sadie Gurman, WSJ, "Trump Aides Warn Him Against Intervening in Huawei Case," 13 Dec. 2018 That difference depends on whether or not WORTH can survive partisan skirmishes. — Mattie Kahn, Glamour, "Inside a Radical Experiment to Transform the Lives of Incarcerated Women," 22 Aug. 2018 One of the officers exited the police vehicle and attempted to pull Daniel off his bike, resulting in a skirmish, according to The Sacramento Bee. — Kaylen Ralph, Teen Vogue, "Sacramento Police Released Dashcam Footage of an Officer Hitting a Fleeing Teen With an SUV," 20 Aug. 2018 The coalition divided responsibilities, as the United Arab Emirates worked in southern Yemen to organize loyalist and irregular forces, while Saudi Arabia ran a campaign of airstrikes and fought border skirmishes with the Houthis to the north. — Washington Post, "AP News Guide: What to know about Yemen’s yearslong war," 14 June 2018 The argument began in the days after the skirmishes on Lexington’s Battle Green and at Concord’s North Bridge, and the rivalry continues 243 years later. — BostonGlobe.com, "Lexington or Concord? A Patriots’ debate," 31 Mar. 2018 With the game already decided, Thompson fouled Shaun Livingston, which led to a midcourt skirmish and Thompson ejection. — Sam Amick, USA TODAY, "Warriors survive Game 1 vs. Cavs after J.R. Smith's apparent blunder forced overtime," 31 May 2018 Whatever skirmishes lie ahead as the school works out its plans for the class of 2021 and beyond, the real battle for what constitutes a Harvard man—or woman—may have already been lost by an old generation, or won by a new one. — William Stadiem, Town & Country, "Can Harvard's Storied Final Clubs Resist the Tides of Change?," 2 Aug. 2016 President Trump can call off his meeting with Mr. Putin pending a substantive gesture, such as release of the two dozen Ukrainian sailors Russia kidnapped in its skirmish. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "Ways to Make Putin Pay for Ukraine," 27 Nov. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Armed separatists have skirmished with road workers and the military, which is now overseeing highway construction. — Jennifer Smith, WSJ, "Today’s Logistics Report: Shrinking Japan’s Fleet; Squeezing the Grocers; Highway Dividing Lines," 8 Mar. 2019 Although outright fighting stopped, the two countries have skirmished a number of times in recent years and the peace agreement has not been implemented. — Elias Meseret, The Seattle Times, "Ethiopia welcomes 1st delegation from rival Eritrea in years," 26 June 2018 Ethiopia and Eritrea have not had diplomatic ties since the war began in 1998, with Abiy himself fighting in a town that remains contested today, and the countries have skirmished since then. — Elias Meseret, The Christian Science Monitor, "Ethiopia and Eritrea unite after ending 20-year border war," 9 July 2018 Ethiopia had refused to accept the deal's handing of key locations to Eritrea and the countries have skirmished over the years. — Elias Meseret, Fox News, "Ethiopia, Eritrea leaders to meet 'soon' in surprising thaw," 28 June 2018 Ethiopia had refused to accept the deal’s handing of key locations to Eritrea and the countries have skirmished over the years. — Washington Post, "Ethiopia, Eritrea leaders to meet ‘soon’ in surprising thaw," 28 June 2018 Ethiopia and Eritrea have not had diplomatic ties since the fighting began in 1998, with Abiy himself fighting in the war, and the countries have skirmished since then in one of Africa's longest-running conflicts. — Elias Meseret, Fox News, "With hugs, leaders of rivals Ethiopia, Eritrea finally meet," 8 July 2018 Screens above the walkway showed footage of neo-Nazis and other white supremacists skirmishing with protesters in Charlottesville, Va., last summer. — Matthew Hay Brown, baltimoresun.com, "In Washington, U2 traces its history on 'Experience + Innocence' tour," 18 June 2018 In a 2009 San Diego Union-Tribune article, Richard Crawford said Smith’s actions came as American sailors and Marines were skirmishing with Mexican locals, called Californios, over possession of the state. — Pauline Repard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Richard Smith joins 172-year family history of Old Town flag-waving," 23 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'skirmish.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for skirmish

Noun

Middle English skyrmissh, alteration (influenced by Anglo-French eskermir to fence (with swords), protect, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German scirmen to protect, scirm shield) of skarmuch, from Anglo-French escarmuche, from Old Italian scaramuccia — more at screen

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