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

For professors who studied literary themes and metaphors for a living, theory endowed their scholarship with the armature of a larger purpose, transforming textual analysis into jargony skirmishes in a crusade for social justice. — Emily Eakin, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026

Pantani had targeted this stage from the start of the Tour and his Mercatone Uno team helped set the pace as the peloton made their way from Saint-Étienne to the foot of the Alpe but even once there Pantani bided his time in the early skirmishes. — Duncan Alexander, New York Times, 24 July 2026

Verb

The two sides have also skirmished along the border in the past. — NPR, 12 Oct. 2025

Steve’s gun barked almost in my ear, and the sound brought that treetop skirmish to a sudden conclusion. — Charles Elliott, Outdoor Life, 21 Aug. 2025

Phrases Containing skirmish

• skirmish (with)