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
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
Prosecutors say Mendez and Ortiz scuffled with one of the suspects, which led to the shooting.
—Nate Sylves, CBS News, 20 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
In Montpellier, in the southwest, police scuffled with protesters who had set up a barricade to block traffic at a roundabout.
—Stephane Mahe, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
The Red Sox have scuffled of late, losing seven of their last 10 games.
—Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
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
Prosecutors say Mendez and Ortiz scuffled with one of the suspects, which led to the shooting.
—Nate Sylves, CBS News, 20 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
In Montpellier, in the southwest, police scuffled with protesters who had set up a barricade to block traffic at a roundabout.
—Stephane Mahe, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
The Red Sox have scuffled of late, losing seven of their last 10 games.
—Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scuffled
Verb
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An owner of the Signature Room shuffled its assets around to avoid paying workers who were abruptly laid off when the iconic restaurant and lounge shuttered in 2023, a lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court this week alleges.—
Talia Soglin,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
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Arenas shuffled up and down the pickleball court and shifted laterally, quickly racking up the points and shutting out Jennings in the game, 11-0.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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His brothers, Marcel and Anthony, wrestled at both Reavis and Oak Lawn.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
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The Frenchman wrestled an awful Alpine to 11 Q3 appearances in 2025 and brought in 100 percent of his team’s points.—
Alex Kalinauckas,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Making matters worse was that Seahawks defensive lineman Derick Hall stomped down on Dotson’s calf after the play, leading to Shelton shoving him in the chest and, ultimately, a one-game suspension for Hall.—
Adam Grosbard,
Oc Register,
15 Jan. 2026
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Jenkins brutally stomped and punched Coto, who was severely injured and put on life support.—
Tony Aiello,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Then, amid the pandemic, my research on cultural destruction was suddenly everywhere as Azerbaijan launched a war in our ancestral homeland—fought in the shadow of erasures like Djulfa.—
Simon Maghakyan,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
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As the fish fruitlessly fought the current, neurons that release norepinephrine fired; in response, calcium built up in astrocytes.—
Ingrid Wickelgren,
Quanta Magazine,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Some customers have stumbled upon the bubble waffle shop while scrolling on their phones.—
Bridget Fogarty,
jsonline.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Even some of the most sophisticated left-leaning groups have stumbled.—
Charles Duhigg,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scuffled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scuffled. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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