Synonyms of scuffles

scuffles 1 of 2

noun

plural of scuffle

as in skirmishes

a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups

several chairs were knocked over in the scuffle

Synonyms & Similar Words

• skirmishes
• clashes
• fights
• battles
• tussles
• brawls
• struggles
• dustups
• altercations
• confrontations
• frays
• scrimmages
• contests
• conflicts
• fracases
• duels
• combats
• scrums
• quarrels
• scraps
• fistfights
• hassles
• disputes
• fisticuffs
• melees
• blows
• squabbles
• affrays
• broils
• pitched battles
• spats
• mix-ups
• slugfests
• ruckuses
• punch-ups
• disagreements
• jousts
• controversies
• ructions
• tangles
• tiffs
• donnybrooks
• wrangles
• punch-outs
• battles royal
• rows
• contretemps
• rough-and-tumbles
• catfights
• misunderstandings
• fallings-out
• grapples
• free-for-alls
• arguments
• face-offs
• cross fires
• handgrips
• kickups
• argle-bargles
• argy-bargies

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• truces

scuffles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of scuffle

1

as in shuffles

to move heavily or clumsily

she scuffled along in shoes that were much too large for her

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shuffles
• stomps
• stumbles
• barges
• clumps
• lurches
• shambles
• scuffs
• lumps
• sloughs
• stamps
• flounders
• drags
• trudges
• tramps
• hauls
• stumps
• weaves
• plods
• galumphs
• pounds
• slogs
• lumbers
• staggers
• flops
• flogs
• blunders
• sways
• tromps
• waddles
• wobbles
• reels
• totters
• careens
• teeters
• dodders

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slides
• waltzes
• glides
• whisks
• drifts
• floats
• hangs
• breezes
• hovers
• coasts
• wafts
• poises

2

as in wrestles

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

• wrestles
• fights
• brawls
• tussles
• grapples
• battles
• rassles
• duels
• combats
• wars (against)
• contends
• skirmishes
• punches
• hits
• strikes
• clashes (with)
• boxes
• spars
• bashes
• buffets
• slugs
• batters
• beats

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of scuffles

Noun

Think George Costanza and his Seinfeldian scuffles over parking spots. — Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 30 July 2026

There were ugly scenes after the final whistle as scuffles broke out between Argentina and Spain players. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 19 July 2026

Lalas’ apparent delight in courting the enmity of the American viewing public also extends to his co-hosts—so much so that his early verbal scuffles with Zlatan Ibrahimović have gone more viral than whooping cough. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 24 June 2026

There are videos documenting scuffles and violence, which threatens to complicate Albania’s scheduled 2030 entry into the European Union. — Marzio G. Mian, Vanity Fair, 16 June 2026

Tens of thousands of people joined marches across the country, including in Paris, where brief scuffles with police broke out. — Sylvie Corbet, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026

The extra time from the delay and the legal scuffles gave the team time to get the game ready. — Jay Peters, The Verge, 30 Apr. 2026

The impasse apparently led to a couple of scuffles, including one at a barbershop where Carter was nearly stabbed until one of the men cutting hair intervened. — Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026

There were 12 roughing penalties in the game — six against each team — and plenty of other scuffles involving multiple players. — CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026