Synonyms of scrum

scrum

noun

ˈskrəm 

1

as in throng

a great number of persons or creatures massed together

I had to fight my way through the scrum of holiday shoppers at the mall

Synonyms & Similar Words

• throng
• crowd
• swarm
• flock
• horde
• mob
• army
• multitude
• press
• mass
• legion
• herd
• rout
• bike
• crush
• drove
• masses
• host
• cram
• rabble
• millions
• gaggle
• pile
• mountain
• heap
• rabblement
• jam
• riffraff
• logjam

2

as in skirmish

a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups

when the server spilled a drink on a customer, they got into a bit of a scrum before being separated

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• truce

3

as in bedlam

British a place of uproar or confusion

London's tube is quite a scrum during rush hour

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bedlam
• madhouse
• circus
• babel
• three-ring circus
• mess
• commotion
• racket
• pandemonium
• bustle
• ruckus
• din
• chaos
• turmoil
• noise
• brouhaha
• tumult
• clatter
• clamor
• disarray
• disorder
• hubbub
• shambles
• muss
• confusion
• disarrangement
• havoc
• hell

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• organization
• heaven
• utopia
• paradise
• order
• orderliness
• lull
• peace
• calm
• silence
• arcadia
• respite
• quiet
• stillness
• hush

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of scrum

By contrast, Rubio’s role as Secretary of State keeps him in the public eye and largely above the partisan scrum Vance excels at but can also turn off voters. — Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 28 Aug. 2026

What follows is a transcript of the 10-minute conversation with a small scrum of reporters. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

During a 10-minute scrum in the visitors’ dugout before Friday night’s series opener, Devers, through a Giants team translator, echoed many of the sentiments shared by the aforementioned stars and countless other ex-Red Sox upon their returns. — Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

Tyler manages to reverse the vehicle, pick up James, and get the hell out of the scrum. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026