1
as in shuffled
to move heavily or clumsily
she scuffled along in shoes that were much too large for her
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wrestled
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
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Recent Examples of scuffled
The officers scuffled with the boy and wrestled him to the ground before taking him into custody, a source with knowledge of the case said.
—
Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2026
After starting the year with 14 wins in their first 15 games, the Trojans have scuffled to end the year.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2026
Jothan saw us and shook our hands, as did Michael Ray, but Sun Ra scuffled by with an air of depthless blankness.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
Lawmakers tore up agenda papers and scuffled Wednesday over constitutional amendments opposition claims would extend parliament’s mandate, which expires in April.
—Omar Faruk, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Opposition lawmakers scuffled with police inside Albania’s parliament on Thursday after weeks of escalating tensions over corruption allegations against Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku and other senior officials, Reuters reported.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025
The 8-12 Bucks have scuffled this season, but two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to their lineup on Friday after sitting out four games with a groin injury.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 30 Nov. 2025
The Dodgers' offense has scuffled in the last couple of games, putting more pressure on the pitching staff.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
The offense has scuffled, but the defense has been fantastic.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2026
After starting the year with 14 wins in their first 15 games, the Trojans have scuffled to end the year.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2026
Jothan saw us and shook our hands, as did Michael Ray, but Sun Ra scuffled by with an air of depthless blankness.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
Lawmakers tore up agenda papers and scuffled Wednesday over constitutional amendments opposition claims would extend parliament’s mandate, which expires in April.
—Omar Faruk, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Opposition lawmakers scuffled with police inside Albania’s parliament on Thursday after weeks of escalating tensions over corruption allegations against Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku and other senior officials, Reuters reported.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025
The 8-12 Bucks have scuffled this season, but two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to their lineup on Friday after sitting out four games with a groin injury.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 30 Nov. 2025
The Dodgers' offense has scuffled in the last couple of games, putting more pressure on the pitching staff.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
The offense has scuffled, but the defense has been fantastic.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scuffled
Verb
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What supports will schools offer to students who are emotionally impacted by this sudden disruption, especially those who have already been shuffled around multiple times?—
Randy Ribay,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
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Drained from work, Irvi shuffled down the stairs in sweatpants.—
Caitlin Dickerson,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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His villains were flamboyant, but Bruce was mournful, reluctant — no onscreen superhero has more palpably wrestled with not wanting to be a superhero.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The man who threw the device had another one on him as cops jumped on him and wrestled him to the ground.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Three weeks later, Jalloh allegedly assaulted an older male and stomped his head into the ground.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Mar. 2026
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This wasn’t the three-time Cy Young Award version of this man who stomped through their clubhouse doors this week.—
Jayson Stark,
New York Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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These are people who fought alongside American troops during our last forever war.—
Shawn Vandiver,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Mar. 2026
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Pata's teammates told investigators the two had previously physically fought and Jones had threatened Pata.—
Mason Leath,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In Season 1, the publication of Lee’s latest exposé – a deep dive into the powerful Washberg family – is immediately followed by the suspicious suicide of Dale Washberg (Tim Blake Nelson), and Lee knows he’s stumbled onto something big.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2026
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But the Illini stumbled by losing four of six after that before winning their final two against bottom-dwellers Oregon and Maryland.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scuffled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scuffled. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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