as in skirmish
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
he came home with a black eye from the dustup at the bar
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Recent Examples of dustup
Auriemma blamed the dustup on Staley not following the proper protocol for a pregame handshake.
—
David Brandt, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
In the latest dustup over a groundbreaking HIV prevention medicine, Doctors Without Borders has harshly criticized the manufacturer for refusing to sell its treatment directly to humanitarian organizations.
—Ed Silverman, STAT, 30 Mar. 2026
Aside from the, well, red-meat aspect of the latest Senate race dustup, what about Talarico's actual message on meat consumption?
—John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026
Cops called to the dustup arrested Brown without incident.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dustup
David Brandt, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
In the latest dustup over a groundbreaking HIV prevention medicine, Doctors Without Borders has harshly criticized the manufacturer for refusing to sell its treatment directly to humanitarian organizations.
—Ed Silverman, STAT, 30 Mar. 2026
Aside from the, well, red-meat aspect of the latest Senate race dustup, what about Talarico's actual message on meat consumption?
—John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026
Cops called to the dustup arrested Brown without incident.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dustup
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dustup
Noun
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Walker, in a 10-pitch skirmish, drew a walk.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
19 Apr. 2026
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After a skirmish in Lexington the British forces faced a larger band of Minutemen in Concord.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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City will have one eye on clinching the FA Cup trophy for the third time in eight years, while Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final clashes with Atletico Madrid will take plenty out of them physically and mentally.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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The dog-waste donnybrook was similar to another recent clash in Brooklyn that saw a 75-year-old grandmother jumped and beaten for complaining that a dog walker was not cleaning up the pooch’s poop.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Avoid ego battles with parents and bosses.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
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Find out for yourself with its chaotic four-on-four battles.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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At one point, the crew shot a scene in which Whalen’s character joins a bar fight, shouting invectives at a hapless extra before pummelling him to the ground.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
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Denver police on Thursday arrested a 28-year-old man who investigators said shot and killed another man in a fight near South Broadway and West Maple Avenue, department officials said in a news release.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dustup.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dustup. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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