1
as in shuffling
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 wrestling
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
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Recent Examples of scuffling
Boston’s frontcourt will face a stiff challenge against the scuffling Bucks, as two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to return to the lineup after missing five-plus weeks with a calf strain, per a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania.
—
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 2 Mar. 2026
Bryson Tiller had 11 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks for Kansas, which handed the scuffling Cougars (23-5, 11-4) their third consecutive defeat — all against top-15 opponents.
—ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
Miami had been scuffling, dropping three of its previous six games.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car.
—Binaifer Nowrojee, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
On January 24, federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway in Minneapolis, less than three weeks after an immigration officer fired on Renee Good, also 37, killing her in her car.
—Christopher Harris, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
The New York Times did a video analysis of one video, showing a group of agents scuffling with the man, eventually bringing him to his knees.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 24 Jan. 2026
The protagonist, McTeague (Gibson Gowland) is a scuffling American naïf, a California miner who, seeking better prospects, learns dentistry from an itinerant practitioner and, without any formal qualifications, starts a practice in San Francisco.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2026
This was the year Kansas City lost its magic pixie dust … while ultimately scuffling to a 6-11 finish.
—Jesse Newell, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 2 Mar. 2026
Bryson Tiller had 11 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks for Kansas, which handed the scuffling Cougars (23-5, 11-4) their third consecutive defeat — all against top-15 opponents.
—ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
Miami had been scuffling, dropping three of its previous six games.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car.
—Binaifer Nowrojee, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
On January 24, federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway in Minneapolis, less than three weeks after an immigration officer fired on Renee Good, also 37, killing her in her car.
—Christopher Harris, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
The New York Times did a video analysis of one video, showing a group of agents scuffling with the man, eventually bringing him to his knees.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 24 Jan. 2026
The protagonist, McTeague (Gibson Gowland) is a scuffling American naïf, a California miner who, seeking better prospects, learns dentistry from an itinerant practitioner and, without any formal qualifications, starts a practice in San Francisco.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2026
This was the year Kansas City lost its magic pixie dust … while ultimately scuffling to a 6-11 finish.
—Jesse Newell, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scuffling
Verb
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The Green Bay Packers are doing some shuffling at cornerback by adding Benjamin St-Juste while informing Nate Hobbs of a plan to release him a year after signing him to the $48 million, four-year contract, according to two people with knowledge of the decisions.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
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One of the early schools to change leagues in the NCAA's conference shuffling era, Boston College left the Big East for the ACC in 2005 but has struggled to find success in its revenue sports.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And yet, for any translator who has spent real time wrestling with sentences rather than theories, there is no denying that compensation exists.—
Jan Steyn,
The Dial,
10 Mar. 2026
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The National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships began in 2020 as a tournament for NCAA programs, the same year the NCAA designated women’s wrestling an emerging sport.—
John Bohnenkamp,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Expect to see crunching tackles, stomping recovery runs and heroic blocks from a 22-year-old centre-back who will be a leader for his country at their first World Cup.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2026
-
So, let’s circle back to the original question on stomping.—
Adam Cohen,
Oklahoman,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Nearby, pigeons are fighting over what, horrifyingly, appears to be a chicken strip.—
Addie Citchens,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
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The ferocity of Iran’s attacks on America’s Gulf allies, and the regime’s determination to keep fighting, have already come as a nasty surprise to him.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The man then tripped, stumbling to the ground.—
Andrew Adeolu,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
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How Species Actually Get Discovered Now The popular image of species discovery involves an explorer stumbling across a strange creature in an untouched jungle.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scuffling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scuffling. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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