skirmish 1 of 2

noun

ˈskər-mish How to pronounce skirmish (audio)
Definition of skirmishnext
1
as in encounter
a brief clash between enemies or rivals the candidates' first debate was only a skirmish in a very long campaign

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in clash
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups throughout the week of the convention, police engaged in skirmishes with some of the demonstrators

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

skirmish

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to brawl

Related Words
2
as in to prospect

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of skirmish
Noun
Carrington seemed to be extra excited about playing the Fever again after getting into a skirmish with Sophie Cunningham in their previous game. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026 The subject of the Israel-Gaza conflict has once again been to the fore this weekend in Hollywood following a verbal skirmish between actor Mark Ruffalo and Paramount leadership. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 24 Aug. 2026
Verb
The two sides have also skirmished along the border in the past. — NPR, 12 Oct. 2025 Steve’s gun barked almost in my ear, and the sound brought that treetop skirmish to a sudden conclusion. — Charles Elliott, Outdoor Life, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for skirmish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skirmish
  1. encounter
  2. clash
  3. brawl
  4. prospect
  5. battle
  6. probe
  7. fight
  8. explore
Noun
  • Cell phone video later obtained by media outlets also appeared to conflict with Castro's description of the encounter.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
  • In New York City, for instance, pedestrians remain far more likely to be hurt or die in encounters with cars, trucks, or vans.
    — Paula Span, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of encounter
Noun
  • Parkinson usually plays things a bit straighter with the media, but his presence in the away dugout did provide the 20,056-capacity crowd — and an audience watching on TV on both sides of the Atlantic — with a fascinating clash of styles.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Disappointment over a relationship rift flares as the moon and Saturn clash.
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of clash
Verb
  • The teams brawled on the outside for minutes, but the chants started up again.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Well, maybe everyone except for the fans escorted out of the right-field bleachers after brawling, another clip that went viral on social media.
    — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of brawl
Verb
  • Can any of them stake a claim to a rotation spot and save the team some money and/or prospects this offseason?
    — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Included in the roster of G League and international talent are former Heat players Orlando Robinson and Cole Swider, as well as former Heat camp prospects DeJon Jareau and James Nunnally.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of prospect
Noun
  • Don’t shrink to avoid disagreement, but don’t make everything a battle for control either.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Mustafa, who was born in Iraqi Kurdistan and fled to Norway as a child, said the film was inspired by his encounter with a female Peshmerga sniper during the 2014 frontline battles, as female Kurdish fighters countered Islamic State attacks.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of battle
Verb
  • Research-Grade Interviewing Beyond collecting responses, ascertain whether the system uses research-grade interviewing to probe for deeper meaning.
    — Stu Sjouwerman, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The Moon opposes probing Pluto, bringing attention to unfinished tasks, mental clutter, or a habit that no longer helps.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of probe
Noun
  • By the end of the fight, an enthralling contest which Taylor won by a somewhat wide 27 points to 3, the crowd was on their feet.
    — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Thank you Jena, and thank you to all the Screencaps readers who have joined the fight.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of fight
Verb
  • Mice on semaglutide explored more, balanced longer on a rotating rod, ran farther on a treadmill and solved a maze faster—gains that held even after the researchers accounted for the animals just being leaner than their peers.
    — Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Art requires some neutrality to find its voice, but a building dedicated to the exploration of narrative shouldn’t stop exploring just when its storytelling begins.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of explore

Phrases Containing skirmish

Browse Nearby Words

skips (out)
skirmish
skirmished
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Skirmish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skirmish. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on skirmish

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about skirmish

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of stigma

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All