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
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Recent Examples of scrums
There were no scrums, barely any big hits and absolute zero sense of disdain from one bench to the other.
—
Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
And while this particular standoff has been unusually drawn out, the sticking points wouldn’t be unfamiliar to anyone who’s participated in one of the hundreds of similar scrums that have taken place since the dawn of the cable bundle.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 14 Nov. 2025
The incident sparked multiple scrums across the ice.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 12 Nov. 2025
Capitol hallways have become an endless series of partisan scrums and press conferences where the two sides play the blame game, occasionally to each others’ faces on camera in impromptu scuffles.
—Steven T. Dennis, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
And while this particular standoff has been unusually drawn out, the sticking points wouldn’t be unfamiliar to anyone who’s participated in one of the hundreds of similar scrums that have taken place since the dawn of the cable bundle.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 14 Nov. 2025
The incident sparked multiple scrums across the ice.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 12 Nov. 2025
Capitol hallways have become an endless series of partisan scrums and press conferences where the two sides play the blame game, occasionally to each others’ faces on camera in impromptu scuffles.
—Steven T. Dennis, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrums
Noun
-
More than twenty‑five thousand people crowded into Shibe Park, including throngs of young people who made the gathering feel more like a festival than a political convention.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Tuesday marks 40 years since throngs of Chicagoans braved subzero wind chills to welcome home the Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
These were not skirmishes but full-scale conflicts, usually costing tens—sometimes hundreds—of thousands of lives.—
Robert Kagan,
The Atlantic,
18 Jan. 2026
-
The tactics of federal immigration agents have come under intense scrutiny after the shooting of Good and growing skirmishes between federal officers and protesters.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The 236-foot former drug-runner ship Hilma Hooker offers one of the most impressive wreck dives in the region, though the vertical walls at The Cliff, vibrant reefs at Sweet Dreams, and swarms of sealife at Salt Pier are just as unforgettable.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Jan. 2026
-
The system uses several 50 kW industrial laser units to create a single powerful beam that kills drone swarms, cruise missiles, and fast-moving threats from a long distance.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
And Eat Street was the scene of a series of clashes, before federal officers and local and state police pulled back and protesters took over the area.—
Jack Brook,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Considered to be one of the earliest TV villains, the reality television alum was known for his lack of personal hygiene, as well as his frequent clashes with fellow housemates.—
Nicholas Rice,
PEOPLE,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Each booth offered a brief refuge from the hordes moving steadily through the aisles.—
Tim Corlett,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Only hordes of irate New York sports fans could have brokered that détente so quickly.—
Scott Soshnick,
Sportico.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There were still fights to fight and Perfidia’s restlessness and struggles adjusting to motherhood led her to leave.—
Lindsey Underwood,
Vanity Fair,
13 Jan. 2026
-
From high-stakes budget fights to ambitious transit plans and a political cycle already heating up, these are some of the people who will leave their fingerprints on the year ahead.—
Austin American Statesman,
Austin American Statesman,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The idea of a 10% rate cap has all the seriousness of bread-and-circuses governance.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Coaches don’t like media circuses, but Jones can’t wean himself off the attention.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
In fact, some flocks overwinter as far north as Canada.—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Jan. 2026
-
For a real birdwatching activity, fill a seed bag with thistle and watch flocks of them dart around the feeder and feast with fervor.—
Kier Holmes,
Martha Stewart,
18 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scrums.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrums. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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