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
There had been a couple of preseason scrimmages, and Friday’s game was not planned.
—
Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 6 Sep. 2025
While most college coaches treat their practices like a top secret meeting, Dykes has maintained a wide-open media policy, allowing reporters to watch full practices in the spring and fall camps, and even allowing fans and media to watch entire scrimmages.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2025
The Hornets showcased a fleet of backs in camp and in two full-tackle scrimmages, including the speedy and elusive Jamar Curtis.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2025
So the practice plans for the preseason, this year, mirrored a typical game-week structure, culminating in Saturday scrimmages.
—Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
The count had been narrowed to just more than 100 for Monday’s doubleheader of scrimmages, which was open to the public.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2025
There are progressive installations of offensive and defensive schemes to learn and master, film sessions to pay attention (stay awake) in and one-on-one competitions, position battles and scrimmages to win.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 21 Aug. 2025
Ross has proven hard to miss during CSU’s scrimmages this month.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
With two-and-a-half weeks of practices and a pair of scrimmages in the books, the Hurricanes have now shifted their focus from working on themselves to preparing for Notre Dame.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 6 Sep. 2025
While most college coaches treat their practices like a top secret meeting, Dykes has maintained a wide-open media policy, allowing reporters to watch full practices in the spring and fall camps, and even allowing fans and media to watch entire scrimmages.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2025
The Hornets showcased a fleet of backs in camp and in two full-tackle scrimmages, including the speedy and elusive Jamar Curtis.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2025
So the practice plans for the preseason, this year, mirrored a typical game-week structure, culminating in Saturday scrimmages.
—Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
The count had been narrowed to just more than 100 for Monday’s doubleheader of scrimmages, which was open to the public.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2025
There are progressive installations of offensive and defensive schemes to learn and master, film sessions to pay attention (stay awake) in and one-on-one competitions, position battles and scrimmages to win.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 21 Aug. 2025
Ross has proven hard to miss during CSU’s scrimmages this month.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
With two-and-a-half weeks of practices and a pair of scrimmages in the books, the Hurricanes have now shifted their focus from working on themselves to preparing for Notre Dame.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrimmages
Noun
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Still one of the NFL’s nastiest division rivalries, the game was full of skirmishes and a near-costly unnecessary roughness penalty late in the third against the Eagles that put the Cowboys in position to take the lead.—
Dan Gelston,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
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Ideological skirmishes over the motives and obligations of Carpenter’s music include both sincere interrogation of its feminism and smirking counteractive reprisals to that scrutiny.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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At least 22 police officers were injured during the clashes, a spokesperson for Spain’s National Police told CNN.—
Pau Mosquera,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
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Shots fired in San Bernardino, spike strips in Van Nuys, and clashes in Santa Ana highlight a rise in confrontations between immigration agents and civilians — a trend experts warn is intensifying across Southern California.—
Sydney Barragan,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Whereas large investors once uniformly supported settlements to avoid costly fights, some now argue that quick capitulations undermine shareholder democracy and give too much power to activists.—
Kai Liekefett,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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The 6-foot-6 defenseman decisively won his fights.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The musical battles in K-Popped did require them to compete against each other.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Years of lobbying and court battles by the LGBTQ community have achieved a few successes over the past decade.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scrimmages.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrimmages. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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