scrums

noun

plural of scrum
1
as in throngs
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

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2
as in skirmishes
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in madhouses
British a place of uproar or confusion London's tube is quite a scrum during rush hour

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of scrums Breaking work into small pieces and running it through scrums and sprints was how teams offset the sheer cost of human coding hours. — Tim Lee, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026 Erasmus emptied his bench in the third quarter and the fresh power showed in the increasingly one-sided scrums. — ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026 While viral videos poke fun, territorial scrums over scarce Costco spots can turn ugly, and sometimes violent. — Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 30 July 2026 Players participated in practice interviews, informal scrums and official press conferences throughout the weekend. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026 That increase, unlike in the Premier League in its 2025-26 season, is not primarily due to inswinging corners causing rugby-style scrums in the six-yard box. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 July 2026 That didn’t seem to dent the energy, with spontaneous Argentinian futbol songs breaking out among scrums of fans. — Matias Ocner, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026 The media scrums around each player reflected their importance, with constant jostling for the right positioning of microphones and cameras. — Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 22 June 2026 Rebounding was a recurring problem, leading to chaotic scrums in front of the net. — Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrums
  1. throngs
  2. skirmishes
  3. circuses
  4. swarms
  5. clashes
  6. messes
  7. hordes
  8. fights
Noun
  • Salem is a vibrant, thriving, bustling city, attracting throngs of tourists in the autumn.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Guests of the hotel have a special opportunity to visit the villa privately, away from the throngs of tourists that visit from near and far.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of throngs
Noun
  • Apart from a few tear-gas skirmishes, the demonstrations ended peacefully.
    — Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Modern politics is a constant string of skirmishes over word choice.
    — David Litt, Time, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of skirmishes
Noun
  • The family has also worked with circuses and collected unusual handmade costumes over the years.
    — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 20 Oct. 2026
  • These feats would later move to circuses but, despite its proud history, strongman only became an official sport in 1977 with the inaugural World’s Strongest Man.
    — Rob Tanner, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of circuses
Noun
  • Under this concept, armed forces aim to coordinate multiple VICTOR drones into autonomous swarms capable of dividing surveillance, reconnaissance, and transport missions in real time.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
  • On Friday evening, swarms of Dolly Parton lookalikes took over the East Village for The Frankie Shop and Unemployed’s fourth annual Halloween bash.
    — Simone Cook, Vogue, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of swarms
Noun
  • And some of the stones were reportedly thrown at police during nighttime clashes that authorities say left hundreds injured.
    — Fred A. Bernstein, Architectural Digest, 4 Nov. 2026
  • In the letter, the gang leader asks for an international delegation to be dispatched to Haiti to facilitate a dialogue in the Cul-de-Sac Plaine where clashes between armed gang members and security forces have forced people to flee their homes.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of clashes
Noun
  • Tackle small messes right away to prevent buildup and make deep-cleaning days easier.
    — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Others have used it to remove oily stains from their toddlers like crayon marks on carpet, and one reviewer says it’s saved many of their clothes from being ruined in a household with unavoidable messes from both kids and pets.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of messes
Noun
  • Speaking to hordes of mostly young fans at his Masterclass and later at a press conference and multiple one-on-one interviews, the indefatigable filmmaker reflected on the current state of affairs in the world.
    — Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The report describes aggressive tactics in which hordes of solicitors sit on the phones all day, calling people to get them to refinance.
    — Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of hordes
Noun
  • In a separate incident, Modesto police cited a Riverbank High School student suspected of making a threatening social media post targeting Beyer following the fights.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Federal budget fights will likely resurface arguments about tax incentives for EVs and other clean tech.
    — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of fights

Browse Nearby Words

scrumptious
scrums
scrunch
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Cite this Entry

“Scrums.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrums. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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