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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
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skirmish
Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2026
The game was delayed with just under six minutes on the clock after several skirmishes broke out, leading to the ejections of Seals captain Wes Berg and Toronto’s Elijah Gash.
—Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2026
Our Land is a bracing film about the murder of Chuschagasta leader Javier Chocobar, whose community has been trying for years to exert its Indigenous land rights; he was killed in 2009 in a skirmish with three armed men trying to survey the area for mining efforts.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 May 2026
Walker, in a 10-pitch skirmish, drew a walk.
—Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skirmish
Noun
There’s this skirmish going on in the Middle East.
—Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2026
The game was delayed with just under six minutes on the clock after several skirmishes broke out, leading to the ejections of Seals captain Wes Berg and Toronto’s Elijah Gash.
—Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2026
Our Land is a bracing film about the murder of Chuschagasta leader Javier Chocobar, whose community has been trying for years to exert its Indigenous land rights; he was killed in 2009 in a skirmish with three armed men trying to survey the area for mining efforts.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 May 2026
Walker, in a 10-pitch skirmish, drew a walk.
—Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skirmish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skirmish
Noun
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In each encounter, Riley, a chill, hangdog figure with mutton chops and a spray of freckles, was soft-spoken and receptive, curious and unhurried, but also a little elusive when necessary, knowing when to drift away.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
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Travelers who put their phones away report being more open to the kind of unplanned encounters that define memorable trips.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
16 May 2026
Noun
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But Giants-Rams might have the greatest blowout potential of these 17 Monday night clashes.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
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Here are some photos from the second of three skirmishes in this always entertaining Show Me State clash.—
Jeff Rosen,
Kansas City Star,
16 May 2026
Verb
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This game is the ultimate in brawling adventure.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
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The weird thing is that Becerra does know how to brawl.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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One idea supported by Steve Squyres, Blue Origin’s chief scientist, is using a Blue Ring to deploy multiple small satellites to prospect for resources around asteroids.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
19 May 2026
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That means prospecting for lunar helium-3 starts by simply making mineralogical maps of the moon’s surface.—
Robin George Andrews,
Scientific American,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Decades-long legal battle The Supreme Court decision to overturn Glossip’s conviction and death sentence last year marked a major turning point in his decades-long legal battle.—
Linh Tran,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
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But the frenzied redistricting battle of the past few months — including a congressional map in his home state thrown out by a court after people voted to approve it, and certain elections postponed in Louisiana and Alabama after mail ballots already went out — has done it.—
Miles Parks,
NPR,
14 May 2026
Verb
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In subsequent years, as the Sentinel probed the early implementation of the law, Healy’s thorough reporting and pointed prose helped lawmakers refine its language.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 May 2026
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The camel cricket, a species in the Rhaphidophoridae family, is a tiny jumping insect with long, cricket-like back legs and even longer probing antennae.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
21 May 2026
Noun
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The fight will be contested at welterweight, and White did not clarify how many rounds the bout would be contested at.—
Mark Puleo,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
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Uthmeier has taken a courageous stand, and should finish the fight.—
Kimberly Bird,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 May 2026
Verb
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Cars are banned, so visitors get around on foot or by golf cart; however, the island is arguably best explored by boat.—
Nicky Swallow,
Travel + Leisure,
17 May 2026
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And with more than 20 miles of trails on the property to explore, the natural surroundings here cannot help but enhance members’ mental and physical well-being.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skirmish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skirmish. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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