Synonyms of skirmish

skirmish 1 of 2

noun

ˈskər-mish 

1

as in encounter

a brief clash between enemies or rivals

the candidates' first debate was only a skirmish in a very long campaign

Synonyms & Similar Words

• encounter
• brush
• fight
• brawl
• run-in
• quarrel
• argument
• battle
• spat
• scrape
• squabble
• hassle
• row
• tiff
• fray
• wrangle

2

as in clash

a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups

throughout the week of the convention, police engaged in skirmishes with some of the demonstrators

Synonyms & Similar Words

• clash
• battle
• fight
• scuffle
• struggle
• tussle
• brawl
• fray
• dustup
• contest
• conflict
• combat
• duel
• scrimmage
• confrontation
• altercation
• fracas
• scrum
• quarrel
• melee
• scrap
• rough-and-tumble
• dispute
• pitched battle
• fistfight
• fisticuffs
• spat
• blows
• battle royal
• slugfest
• hassle
• affray
• punch-up
• squabble
• donnybrook
• joust
• ruckus
• face-off
• mix-up
• tangle
• free-for-all
• row
• ruction
• controversy
• broil
• contretemps
• tiff
• falling-out
• punch-out
• catfight
• misunderstanding
• cross fire
• wrangle
• disagreement
• argument
• grapple
• kickup
• handgrips
• argle-bargle
• argy-bargy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• truce

skirmish

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to brawl

Related Words

• brawl
• box
• combat
• battle
• hit
• spar
• duel
• fight
• slug
• buffet
• war (against)
• punch
• strike
• batter
• bash
• contend
• clash (with)
• tussle
• scuffle
• wrestle
• beat
• grapple
• rassle

2

as in to prospect

Related Words

• prospect
• probe
• explore
• poke (around)
• look over
• find out
• track (down)
• run down
• glance (over)
• find
• ascertain
• study
• grub (about)
• snoop
• learn
• hit (on or upon)
• locate
• discover
• check (out)
• detect
• browse
• audit
• determine
• survey
• scare up
• rifle
• investigate
• review
• ferret (out)
• peruse
• examine
• inspect
• get
• scan
• search
• scrutinize
• descry
• dig (through)
• hunt (through)
• shake down
• rake
• troll
• pat down
• dredge
• scour
• comb
• frisk
• rummage
• sort (through)
• ransack

Dissimilar Words

• hide
• lose
• abandon
• ignore
• neglect

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of skirmish

Noun

While the war ended years before, the hostility spread from the stands — with skirmishes among supporters — into the field, when Maradona tricked the referee and the world with the World Cup’s most infamous goal, punching the ball into the net with his fist above England’s goalie Peter Shilton. — Gabriel Sama, Mercury News, 21 June 2026

One of those skirmishes, in fact, involved Childress himself, in 2011 at Kansas Speedway, when the then-65-year-old car owner for an opposing team got into a physical altercation with Busch after an on-track incident. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 6 June 2026

At Bunker HIll, historical displays are accompanied by panels with quotes that reflect on the monument and the Battle of Bunker Hill, the first major skirmish of the Revolutionary War. — Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 5 June 2026

The comps were particularly rough that season, as the NYC-OKC skirmish was no match for what would prove to be Michael Jordan’s final championship in Chicago. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 June 2026

Phrases Containing skirmish

• skirmish (with)