1
: a physical contest or struggle : scuffle
2
: an intense argument, controversy, or struggle
Examples of tussle in a Sentence
Noun
The suspect was arrested after a tussle with a security guard.
a tussle for control of the company
The President is in for another tussle with Congress.
Verb
Two players tussled for the ball.
The residents of the neighborhood tussled with city hall for years about the broken parking meters.
Recent Examples on the Web
Amie Parnes, The Hill, 8 Sep. 2025
As landlords, renters and the state tussle over who pays the cost of adaptation, experts agree the solution likely will include a mix of strategies.
—Calmatters, Oc Register, 29 Aug. 2025
Nathan Goldman, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
This could open up space for another Chelsea player to attack, but an arm in the air from the corner taker is usually a sign for Cucurella to trot back into the box, tussling with his defender and making a nuisance of himself on the way back.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tussle
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Noun
Some Democrats say the party is best off letting Republicans tussle on the issue, without getting in the way.
—Amie Parnes, The Hill, 8 Sep. 2025
As landlords, renters and the state tussle over who pays the cost of adaptation, experts agree the solution likely will include a mix of strategies.
—Calmatters, Oc Register, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
Thus, for the time being, retirement contributors do not need to tussle with any changes to their retirement contributions.
—Nathan Goldman, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
This could open up space for another Chelsea player to attack, but an arm in the air from the corner taker is usually a sign for Cucurella to trot back into the box, tussling with his defender and making a nuisance of himself on the way back.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tussle
Cite this Entry
“Tussle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tussle. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tussle
2 of 2 noun1
: a physical contest or struggle
2
: a rough argument or a struggle against difficult odds
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