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
Austin Meek, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
The scuffles came amid an already intense night, with tensions fueled by a brutal press conference on Thursday for the title fight between Lopez and Stevenson, during which the boxers exchanged insults about each other’s family members.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 31 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
Noun
The football teams have had a series of scuffles in recent years, including a 2022 incident in the Michigan Stadium tunnel that resulted in criminal charges for several Spartans.
—Austin Meek, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
The scuffles came amid an already intense night, with tensions fueled by a brutal press conference on Thursday for the title fight between Lopez and Stevenson, during which the boxers exchanged insults about each other’s family members.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 31 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scuffles
Noun
-
And while his 11 years with the Yankees were often marked with verbal skirmishes with George Steinbrenner, in 1982 the Boss showed his respect for Nettles’ baseball acumen and quiet clubhouse leadership to name him the first Yankee captain since Thurman Munson’s death in 1979.—
Bill Madden,
New York Daily News,
31 Jan. 2026
-
These were not skirmishes but full-scale conflicts, usually costing tens—sometimes hundreds—of thousands of lives.—
Robert Kagan,
The Atlantic,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Tristan returns home and greets James while Siegfried shuffles the woman out the window.—
Alice Burton,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
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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
Verb
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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
-
Subsequent border clashes with Cambodia allowed Anutin to recast himself as a wartime leader after his popularity initially slipped because of floods and financial scandals.—
GRANT PECK,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Their goal with the video was to push back against the president’s domestic troop deployments, a trend his critics feared might lead to clashes with ordinary Americans or be used to interfere in upcoming elections.—
Missy Ryan,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Idris the Valentine’s cow stomps in the footsteps of Squishmallows’ viral strawberry cow and the subsequent bestselling blueberry cow.—
Jacquelyn Smith,
Parents,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Oscar-winning composer Daniel Blumberg was tasked with layering in claps, stomps and screams.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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However, fights outside the dojo or a tournament were rare for Warren’s students.—
Everett Eaton,
jsonline.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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The Calpak Luka Mini Softside Carry-on feels more like a plush weekender than a spinner, and the Bagsmart Hardside Carry-on zips open clamshell-style and never fights me at TSA.—
Brandon Schultz,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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While earlier phases of the Bay-Delta plan have already been litigated, much of the recent focus has been on lengthy negotiations and revisions to the plan, rather than on launching new courtroom battles.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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The beef, which started in 1999, has spawned almost three decades of diss tracks and battles in real life and on social media.—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Repeatedly, the project seems to transcend the projects, defying gravity in its poetic depiction of how this resilient, supportive community comes together around Lil Ant, stepping in where his father stumbles to embrace the boy.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2026
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Soon after, Bradley stumbles on Zuri’s body and confronts Linda, resulting in a brutal fight that includes stabbing, scalp ripping, and some really upsetting eye gouging.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scuffles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scuffles. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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