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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
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as in to prospect
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skirmish
Sheikh Saaliq and Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025
Border skirmishes have continued nightly for nearly a week.
—Amanda Castro
hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 13 Nov. 2024
The two eyed each other warily as Armenia and Azerbaijan skirmished in the early 2000s.
—Maria Snegovaya, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for skirmish
Noun
In the past, each side has accused the other of starting border skirmishes in the Himalayan region.
—Sheikh Saaliq and Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025
Border skirmishes have continued nightly for nearly a week.
—Amanda Castro
hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
Verb
Garcia, who had the backing of the same progressive groups backing Hernandez, frequently skirmished with Gallego.
—Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 13 Nov. 2024
The two eyed each other warily as Armenia and Azerbaijan skirmished in the early 2000s.
—Maria Snegovaya, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for skirmish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skirmish
Noun
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Some, including National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, are reportedly wary of the encounter, while others, such as Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, support it for its potential to foster new deals.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 May 2025
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Some of the encounters were video recorded and took place over days, according to prosecutors.—
Elizabeth Wagmeister,
CNN Money,
12 May 2025
Noun
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The following day, however, Mercury will meet Mars in a stubborn square, triggering a clash between the need for practicality and discernment versus the desire to express oneself boldly and with pride.—
Staff Author,
People.com,
1 May 2025
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India has been a nuclear power for over 50 years, possessing an arsenal that is publicly clandestine but capable in warfare—notably against its neighboring country, Pakistan, amid their decades-long clash over Kashmir.—
Nick Mordowanec
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Punk taped his fist and immediately brawled with Rollins.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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The threats have teeth, since House Republicans are brawling over spending levels and haven’t ironed out their differences, while Senate Republicans will need bipartisan support to avoid a filibuster in the upper chamber.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
12 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Eric Lauer logged the bulk of a bullpen game Wednesday against the Red Sox, Easton Lucas could return after a Triple-A rebound (six shutout innings against the Iowa Cubs), and prospect Jake Bloss, Keith Law’s No. 6 in the system, could make the jump back to the big leagues.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
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Orioles prospect Jud Fabian's strikeout rate has fallen 13 percentage points and his walk rate has doubled as a result of a swing change.—
Jacob Calvin Meyer,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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As soon as hot weather sets in, chickweed begins to slow its growth, often dying out by midsummer, but don’t think the battle is won.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 May 2025
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As the battle for Champions League football hots up, Nottingham Forest have a must-win game against their local rivals Leicester City, having taken just seven points from their last six Premier League games.—
Holly Shand,
New York Times,
8 May 2025
Verb
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Dom Amore’s Sunday Read: Meet Yale’s Jack Ohman, tops in ERA; UConn men probing Boston and more Yale’s Jack Ohman, with a new pitch, is Oh-67; UConn men looking to Boston, ex-Husky takes reins at CCSU, coaching legends lost.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2025
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More than 10 top former allies of Mahathir have also been targeted by graft and tax evasion probes for alleged crimes going back decades.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
2 May 2025
Noun
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The court appearance had stalled last month due to a fight over access to a parole document.—
Karim Doumar,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2025
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But in his first homily on Friday since being made leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo highlighted the church’s fight against rising atheism.—
Caitlin McFall,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2025
Verb
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Examples of pitches invited for the fund include stories that explore how environmental changes are reshaping borders, communities, and futures, or stories that connect geopolitical conflict, resource extraction, and human movement.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
8 May 2025
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Brazilian representatives will be available at the Palais des Festivals for anyone eager to explore new collaborations.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Skirmish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skirmish. Accessed 15 May. 2025.
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