as in skirmishes
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
several chairs were knocked over in the scuffle
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in shuffles
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 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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scuffles
Jordy Fee-Platt, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Violent scuffles and arrests in the hallways of some of these courts had been broadcast to the world.
—Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 1 Dec. 2025
Cooke, 30, was at the center of several scuffles during the Jaguars’ 25-3 win over the Titans on Sunday, being knocked over twice by late hits after punting the ball and then later being blocked hard by Chestnut, 25, on a 47-yard punt return by Chimere Dike in the fourth quarter.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 1 Dec. 2025
There were some scuffles, but nothing that rose to the level of a fighting penalty or a major.
—CBS News, 15 Nov. 2025
Engemann and Leavitt’s contrast scuffles have completely blown the lid off conversations about show stipulations, which is a topic that executive producers Jeff Jenkins and Lisa Filipelli tell The Hollywood Reporter must be addressed to better serve viewers.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
Video from the scene shows federal agents and Illinois State Police in scuffles with protesters and then taking several people into custody.
—Michael Dorgan , Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 14 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
This helps keep the smaller canines safe and avoids potential scuffles.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
The veteran broadcaster might be wise to avoid intervening in any more household scuffles as the NFL Playoffs begin.
—Jordy Fee-Platt, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Violent scuffles and arrests in the hallways of some of these courts had been broadcast to the world.
—Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 1 Dec. 2025
Cooke, 30, was at the center of several scuffles during the Jaguars’ 25-3 win over the Titans on Sunday, being knocked over twice by late hits after punting the ball and then later being blocked hard by Chestnut, 25, on a 47-yard punt return by Chimere Dike in the fourth quarter.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 1 Dec. 2025
There were some scuffles, but nothing that rose to the level of a fighting penalty or a major.
—CBS News, 15 Nov. 2025
Engemann and Leavitt’s contrast scuffles have completely blown the lid off conversations about show stipulations, which is a topic that executive producers Jeff Jenkins and Lisa Filipelli tell The Hollywood Reporter must be addressed to better serve viewers.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
Video from the scene shows federal agents and Illinois State Police in scuffles with protesters and then taking several people into custody.
—Michael Dorgan , Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 14 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
This helps keep the smaller canines safe and avoids potential scuffles.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scuffles
Noun
-
Hundreds of thousands of civilians were displaced from their homes in both countries when border skirmishes broke out for the second time this year.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Dec. 2025
-
For more than a century, Thailand and Cambodia have contested sovereignty at various undemarcated points along their 817-kilometer (508-mile) land border – a dispute that has occasionally exploded into skirmishes and fighting.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
27 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
That is not unique — Major League Baseball’s offseason shuffles along at a deliberate pace, just as the Dodgers historically have liked.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
In front of me, as various motors rev up to speed, the robot shuffles in place, looking like an arthritic boxer readying for a fight.—
James Vincent,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
This season, silence is louder than words, loyalties are tested, and as each woman wrestles with the past, not everyone will make it to the other side the same.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
5 Jan. 2026
-
The police officer then wrestles Newman to the ground, and no shots are fired.—
Kate Reilly,
NBC news,
21 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The investigation into the killing of a US citizen by an ICE agent in Minneapolis this week is being complicated by clashes between federal and local officials, with the FBI taking control over the objections of Governor Tim Walz.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The powerful Sun clashes with Chiron by way of your chatter quadrant and your habit zone, encouraging you to address a tricky situation at work or in your neighborhood with courageous calm.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Oscar-winning composer Daniel Blumberg was tasked with layering in claps, stomps and screams.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The sequel, which has the Ghostbusters facing off with the spirit of Vigo the Carpathian and his profoundly negative vibes, ends in a joyous celebration that brings the Big Apple together while an animated Statue of Liberty stomps to the rescue.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Eleven finds her way to them, jumping inside the Mind Flayer to destroy Vecna, who’s controlling it from within, while Will fights telepathically from the outside, no longer empathetic or afraid to go toe to toe with his former saboteur.—
Yohana Desta,
Rolling Stone,
4 Jan. 2026
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Ucg | Universal Images Group | Getty Images Novo Nordisk’s shift from a market darling to a serious underperformer has set the stage for a transitional 2026 as the Danish drugmaker fights to regain investor confidence in its weight loss business.—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
1 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This is because monetary policy utterly lacks the excitement of battles or uprisings and the drama of high-level diplomacy.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The Patriots are bound for the AFC Championship Game because their defense has afforded Maye enough time to work through his mistakes in the first two playoff games of his career, both battles against elite defenses.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Ennin gets up and stumbles down the block before collapsing next to a building.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
6 Jan. 2026
-
There’s a fine line between righteousness and self-satisfaction, and the second season, which premieres on HBO Max on January 8, frequently stumbles into the latter territory.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scuffles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scuffles. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.
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