as in skirmishes
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
the two players got into a scrimmage off the court and got suspended
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Recent Examples of scrimmages
The injury generally has a 4-6 week recovery timetable, but Reaves has progressed well and participated in live scrimmages with Lakers coaches and reserves while in Houston.
—
Dan Woike, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Despite some rough showings in a few scrimmages, Craig performed well overall as he gets acclimated to a new team, scheme and a much tougher level of college football.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2026
The Bulldogs have four practices remaining this spring, and two of them will be scrimmages.
—Connor Riley, AJC.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Tatum then ramped up his activity, which included practicing with Boston’s G League team and running through full-speed scrimmages with Celtics teammates before making his season debut on March 6.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
But after being expected to take the next step – participating in full-contact scrimmages and practices – the team scaled back Curry’s work.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Redick has called the 21-year-old guard one of the team’s better players in the stay-ready games – practice scrimmages for low-usage players on the team.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026
Jacobo has received fervent support from administrators, including Highlands principal Adrian Hid, who has sat through rainy scrimmages to back the team.
—Christina Huang, San Antonio Express-News, 19 Mar. 2026
Some of that was a byproduct of two scrimmages at the draft combine last May in Chicago, where a 30% career 3-point shooter went 5 of 11 behind the longer NBA arc.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Dan Woike, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Despite some rough showings in a few scrimmages, Craig performed well overall as he gets acclimated to a new team, scheme and a much tougher level of college football.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2026
The Bulldogs have four practices remaining this spring, and two of them will be scrimmages.
—Connor Riley, AJC.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Tatum then ramped up his activity, which included practicing with Boston’s G League team and running through full-speed scrimmages with Celtics teammates before making his season debut on March 6.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
But after being expected to take the next step – participating in full-contact scrimmages and practices – the team scaled back Curry’s work.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Redick has called the 21-year-old guard one of the team’s better players in the stay-ready games – practice scrimmages for low-usage players on the team.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026
Jacobo has received fervent support from administrators, including Highlands principal Adrian Hid, who has sat through rainy scrimmages to back the team.
—Christina Huang, San Antonio Express-News, 19 Mar. 2026
Some of that was a byproduct of two scrimmages at the draft combine last May in Chicago, where a 30% career 3-point shooter went 5 of 11 behind the longer NBA arc.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrimmages
Noun
-
The game was delayed with just under six minutes on the clock after several skirmishes broke out, leading to the ejections of Seals captain Wes Berg and Toronto’s Elijah Gash.—
Ivan Carter,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 May 2026
-
The early skirmishes certainly appeared that way.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Not to worry, soccer aficionados — there’s an abundance of high-stakes clashes to tide you over until then.—
John Riker,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
-
Be aware of your short fuse as Mars clashes with Jupiter.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Two title fights, multiple division-shifting wins, a record extended for Miller, an arrival statement from Amosov, and a main event that traded weeks of bad blood for legitimate mid-fight respect.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
-
Spread by social media flyers or mass messages beforehand, the takeovers have on occasion spiraled into chaos, with reports of fights, robberies, gunshots and general disruption.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
That means the knock-down, drag-out government shutdown battles that have become a Washington ritual are, in effect, a fight over a little more than a quarter of the federal ledger.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Marr's legal battles with State Farm started in 1999, when Marr says the insurer denied a claim that a friend filed for tornado damage.—
Michael Copley,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scrimmages.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrimmages. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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