tussles; tussled; tussling
1
: to fight or struggle with someone by grabbing or pushing
Two players tussled for the ball.
Some guy was tussling [=scuffling] with a security guard.
2
: to argue or compete with someone
The residents of the neighborhood tussled with city hall for years about the broken parking meters.
plural tussles
1
: a short fight or struggle
The suspect was arrested after a tussle with a security guard.
2
: an argument or a dispute
a tussle for control of the company
The President is in for another tussle with Congress.
Cite this Entry
“Tussle.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/tussle. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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