as in skirmish
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
several chairs were knocked over in the scuffle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to shuffle
to move heavily or clumsily
she scuffled along in shoes that were much too large for her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to wrestle
to seize and attempt to unbalance one another for the purpose of achieving physical mastery
the burglar and the homeowner briefly scuffled together in the dark
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scuffle
Priya Kaur, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
The scuffle broke out between two high-ranking senators toward the end of a session that had included a heated debate on the possibility of US military intervention in the country.
—José Álvarez, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
Immediately after the Mets took a four-run lead, the scuffling right-hander gave up four runs in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 5-5.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scuffle
Noun
Facing a $24 million lawsuit from a security guard over a hallway scuffle in 2018, Cardi acknowledged there was a heated argument but denied accusations of assault.
—Priya Kaur, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
The scuffle broke out between two high-ranking senators toward the end of a session that had included a heated debate on the possibility of US military intervention in the country.
—José Álvarez, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
While the pitching staff scuffled, the offense continued to look lifeless at the plate.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
Immediately after the Mets took a four-run lead, the scuffling right-hander gave up four runs in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 5-5.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scuffle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scuffle
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
Verb
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His terse sendoff denies Dexter the satisfaction of closure and forgiveness, shattering his former colleague’s world before shuffling off it.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
29 Aug. 2025
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There’s constant cleaning, shuffling and mewling as staff and volunteers at the Papago Park Campus make sure the kittens are bottle-fed every four hours, 24 hours a day.—
Dina Kaur,
AZCentral.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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She has been effectively retired from wrestling for over a decade, with her last match taking place on the Raw after WrestleMania 31 in March 2015.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
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At one point, Joseph grabbed the child’s arms while Agba had a hold of his or her legs and the two were trying to wrestle each over the child, deputies said.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The cutbacks are the result of a clash over two budgets—the SEPTA budget and the Pennsylvania budget.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
4 Sep. 2025
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An opening clash in Luxembourg is followed up by a bout against the four-time world champions in Cologne, as Michael O’Neill’s young team dreams of emulating the side that made it to the 1986 tournament in Mexico.—
Jack Bantock,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Closer Bryan Abreu stumbled but has earned the benefit of the doubt with the dominance he’s displayed.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
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Exposure to harmful content is another risk as studies show that teens are more likely than adults to stumble upon self-harm imagery or extremist propaganda.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Among other resources, two engines have also been deployed to fight the wildfire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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Her grandfather served in World War II and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The move is the latest update in a years-long battle over the home of the military's newest combatant command, which is now based in Colorado Springs.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
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In August 2024, Francesca opened up about her mom’s battle with Parkinson’s disease in a video on TikTok.—
Kirsty Hatcher,
People.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Many in Hollywood were dubious as to whether Universal and Amblin could reboot the Jurassic franchise for a third time, and birth a new trilogy more than three decades after Steven Spielberg’s dinos first stomped onto the big screen in 1993’s Jurassic Park.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2025
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People expecting a state championship rematch between Benet and Marist in the Crimson Classic finals had those plans stomped upon Saturday when Lockport ended up surprising the Redwings 29-27, 18-25, 15-10 in the semifinals.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scuffle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scuffle. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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