Synonyms of scuffle

scuffle 1 of 2

noun

as in skirmish

a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups

several chairs were knocked over in the scuffle

Synonyms & Similar Words

• skirmish
• clash
• fight
• battle
• tussle
• brawl
• struggle
• altercation
• dustup
• fray
• fracas
• scrimmage
• confrontation
• contest
• conflict
• duel
• combat
• scrum
• quarrel
• melee
• fistfight
• spat
• scrap
• dispute
• rough-and-tumble
• fisticuffs
• blows
• pitched battle
• hassle
• punch-up
• ruckus
• squabble
• affray
• battle royal
• mix-up
• slugfest
• donnybrook
• tangle
• row
• tiff
• face-off
• controversy
• falling-out
• joust
• free-for-all
• ruction
• contretemps
• catfight
• punch-out
• broil
• misunderstanding
• wrangle
• cross fire
• disagreement
• grapple
• argument
• kickup
• handgrips
• argle-bargle
• argy-bargy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• truce

scuffle

2 of 2

verb

ˈskə-fəl 

1

as in to shuffle

to move heavily or clumsily

she scuffled along in shoes that were much too large for her

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shuffle
• stumble
• stomp
• barge
• clump
• lurch
• slough
• lump
• scuff
• tramp
• haul
• drag
• stump
• stamp
• flounder
• weave
• trudge
• galumph
• pound
• shamble
• lumber
• slog
• stagger
• plod
• sway
• blunder
• flop
• tromp
• flog
• reel
• waddle
• totter
• wobble
• careen
• dodder
• teeter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slide
• breeze
• coast
• glide
• whisk
• drift
• waltz
• hang
• float
• hover
• waft
• poise

2

as in to wrestle

to seize and attempt to unbalance one another for the purpose of achieving physical mastery

the burglar and the homeowner briefly scuffled together in the dark

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wrestle
• fight
• brawl
• tussle
• grapple
• battle
• rassle
• duel
• skirmish
• combat
• war (against)
• contend
• punch
• hit
• strike
• clash (with)
• slug
• box
• batter
• bash
• buffet
• spar
• beat

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of scuffle

Noun

In the video of the event posted to social media, Lennear did not appear to be involved in the scuffle. — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026

Now, the sequence is more likely to end in shouted abuse and maybe a scuffle, the video shot on phones and streamed — sometimes live — on platforms like Kick or Facebook. — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2026

Verb

The two dogs began scuffling and Molloy allegedly pulled out a gun and fired a shot, killing Luke. — Naveen Dhaliwal, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

Some pushed against barricades and scuffled with police, who responded by firing tear gas rounds, using water cannon and beating them with batons, TV footage showed. — Reuters, NBC news, 11 Aug. 2026