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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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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as in to prospect
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skirmish
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 18 May 2025
Last week, India and Pakistan, historic adversaries that have fought multiple wars and smaller-scale skirmishes with each other since the 1940s, entered into their most serious armed dispute in years.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2025
Felix Light, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Dec. 2024
Garcia, who had the backing of the same progressive groups backing Hernandez, frequently skirmished with Gallego.
—Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 13 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for skirmish
Noun
But while Jean-Luc and Georges do at one point get into an actual skirmish on the floor, these clashes never escalate into anything dire.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 18 May 2025
Last week, India and Pakistan, historic adversaries that have fought multiple wars and smaller-scale skirmishes with each other since the 1940s, entered into their most serious armed dispute in years.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2025
Verb
Protesters and police skirmished in Georgia’s capital for a fourth straight night on Dec. 1, with signs that opposition was spreading across the country to the government’s decision to suspend talks on joining the European Union.
—Felix Light, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Dec. 2024
Garcia, who had the backing of the same progressive groups backing Hernandez, frequently skirmished with Gallego.
—Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 13 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for skirmish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skirmish
Noun
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Like Ventura, Jane testified that the encounters would sometimes last days.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
People.com,
5 June 2025
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The encounter drew widespread attention at a time of growing clashes between the Trump administration and Democrats over Trump's hardline approach to immigration.—
Andrew Goudsward,
USA Today,
4 June 2025
Noun
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Boys lacrosse In a wild Div. 4 round of 16 clash, host Littleton received a goal from Zach Milner with five seconds remaining to list the Tigers to a thrilling 13-12 victory over host Lynnfield.—
Brian Roach,
Boston Herald,
6 June 2025
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This clash has had tangible repercussions: Tesla’s stock experienced a significant drop, erasing over $150 billion in market value, while Trump Media saw a decline of approximately $500 million.—
Brent Gleeson,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Verb
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The scene at Pop Mart stores can also be chaotic, as some TikTok users have posted videos depicting customers brawling and yelling at one another over the viral toys.—
Conor Murray,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
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The two continued brawling down the block on Baychester Ave., where the victim pulled out a knife and the suspect opened fire, a police source said.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2025
Verb
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Back in the Hunt The rest of that day back in Alabama was spent prospecting this unfamiliar farm, with predictable results.—
Andrew McKean,
Outdoor Life,
1 May 2025
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The Yankees sent Nestor Cortes and, at the time, prospect Caleb Durbin.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Fires and recovery Crews battle fire burning in Pala, evacuations underway in northern San Diego County.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2025
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Recently, a German court quietly ended a landmark legal battle that had spanned nearly a decade.—
Monica Sanders,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
Verb
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The family is calling on legislators to probe the FWC’s investigation of the crash.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2025
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The California Department of Justice will investigate a fatal shooting by Los Angeles Police Department officers under a law that empowers the state attorney general to probe police shootings of unarmed people — despite the LAPD saying the man killed Tuesday was holding a gun.—
Matthew Ormseth,
Los Angeles Times,
6 June 2025
Noun
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This is not the first time a fight has broken out at a Disney park.—
Moná Thomas,
People.com,
3 June 2025
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Fernandez’s defense attorney said a fight had broken out, and the dad ran across the street to check it out when his son ran after him and was hit.—
Olivia Lloyd,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2025
Verb
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This installation for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Cantor Roof Garden comprises four sculptural elements that explore the sonic and formal potential of simple stringed instruments.—
Caitlin Woolsey,
Artforum,
1 June 2025
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An award-winning Palestinian American writer tackles subjects including home, displacement and gestation in this lyrical memoir that explores the trauma of fractured identity.—
Bethanne Patrick,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Skirmish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skirmish. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
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