1
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in to prospect
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of skirmish
Naomi Cahn, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2026
And the Pakistani military has been engaged in cross-border skirmishes with the Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan for months.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
With billions of dollars at stake, the conflicts manifest in sharp skirmishes in the Legislature, in courts and in the ballot measure arena.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
In a dangerous escalation from cross-border skirmishes, Pakistan launched air strikes at the end of February, targeting major cities including Kabul.
—Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skirmish
Noun
The most recent of many legal skirmishes to come to the public’s attention involves Paris Jackson, Michael Jackson’s daughter.
—Naomi Cahn, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2026
And the Pakistani military has been engaged in cross-border skirmishes with the Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan for months.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
With billions of dollars at stake, the conflicts manifest in sharp skirmishes in the Legislature, in courts and in the ballot measure arena.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
In a dangerous escalation from cross-border skirmishes, Pakistan launched air strikes at the end of February, targeting major cities including Kabul.
—Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skirmish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skirmish
Noun
-
Other sources for asteroid activity include breakup when an asteroid spins too fast, tidal forces ripping apart asteroids during close encounters with a planet, or gas release.—
Patrick M. Shober,
The Conversation,
10 Apr. 2026
-
That first encounter was when the woman was on the congressman’s team.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
All three judges scored it 98-92 for the 29-year-old Briton, who sustained cuts over both eyes from head clashes.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
And the clash of ideologies must now be balanced on the backs of many hardworking people trying to keep their children out of institutional care and on the Medicaid providers that support them.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Republicans have a rare, if slim, shot at winning the governor’s mansion in deep blue California — but risk blowing it if they’re divided and brawling when voters receive their ballots in early May.—
Joe Garofoli,
San Francisco Chronicle,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Wait, goaltender Igor Shesterkin — who brawled with New Jersey’s Jacob Markström last week — has boxing coaches?—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
From a robot that can handwrite hundreds of real estate prospecting cards in minutes to a digital consultant that can narrow down thousands of mortgage options for a client, artificial intelligence has finally arrived in the real estate industry.—
Amancai Biraben,
Oc Register,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Elements of the vision unveiled by Isaacman and other NASA officials last week, such as deep space nuclear propulsion, nuclear reactors on the Moon, and prospecting for lunar resources, will require significant investment in new space technology.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Battle of Kings Mountain, where the Patriots won a 1780 battle just west of Charlotte, and a recreation of British loyalist leader Maj.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
-
In a battle for first place in the Pacific Coast League, Patel drove in five runs and scored a run to lead Irvine to an 8-2 victory over Portola.—
Martin Henderson,
Oc Register,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Supermicro launches probe into cofounder’s Nvidia chip-smuggling arrest.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Tuesday’s advisory said that other operational technology protocols, such as Modbus S7/10, are also being probed, indicating that PLCs from other manufacturers are also being targeted.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Republican candidates, State Senator Mayes Middleton and Central Texas Congressman Chip Roy, are in a very contentious fight.—
Jack Fink
April 12,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The crowd laughed, and the Parenthood actor noted that people intervened and broke up the fight.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sydney, meanwhile, wants to continue exploring her connection to Xzavier.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Barrow, a prominent voice in skate culture, also hosts a series with Thrasher Magazine exploring skate spots around the world.—
Loureen Ayyoub,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skirmish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skirmish. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
