1
2
as in clashes
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
throughout the week of the convention, police engaged in skirmishes with some of the demonstrators
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of skirmishes
Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2026
The early skirmishes certainly appeared that way.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
The skirmishes are a preview for more campaigns later this year, when at least a half-dozen states will hold elections for utility regulators.
—ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026
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
So far, most of the state-level legal skirmishes centered on Kalshi’s event contracts have involved cease-and-desist letters, seeking preliminary injunctions, and civil enforcement.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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
The early skirmishes certainly appeared that way.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
The skirmishes are a preview for more campaigns later this year, when at least a half-dozen states will hold elections for utility regulators.
—ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026
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
So far, most of the state-level legal skirmishes centered on Kalshi’s event contracts have involved cease-and-desist letters, seeking preliminary injunctions, and civil enforcement.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skirmishes
Noun
-
Through the daily rhythms of an urban hospital’s emergency ward and clinics, HOSPITAL reveals the intricate systems, urgent decisions, and human encounters at the heart of modern medicine.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
-
The master of stories about chance encounters between strangers was undoubtedly Patricia Highsmith.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
The most recent back-and-forth over talks comes after a week of sporadic clashes in the Persian Gulf, amid a month-long ceasefire.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
-
Meanwhile, small-scale clashes continued around the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, underscoring the fragility of the ceasefire between Iran and the United States.—
James LaPorta,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
As the man brawls with his in-laws, the boy is caught between two worlds, of male rage and female subjection.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Each rank is colored by how that expert compares to the consensus — prospects an analyst liked more than average are more green, and rankings lower than consensus are more orange.—
Austin Mock,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The Dolphins doubled down on Red Raiders prospects after, earlier Friday, choosing Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez with their lone second-round pick.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Two title fights, multiple division-shifting wins, a record extended for Miller, an arrival statement from Amosov, and a main event that traded weeks of bad blood for legitimate mid-fight respect.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
-
Spread by social media flyers or mass messages beforehand, the takeovers have on occasion spiraled into chaos, with reports of fights, robberies, gunshots and general disruption.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
The cardboard boxes the food is packaged in are also being resold online, with one user selling them for $15 each.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Nick Phillips, with Applied Digital, said the tax exemption ban effectively boxes out data centers from building in South Dakota.—
Makenzie Huber,
States Newsroom,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
So the government probes by the FCC and DOJ are questioning whether the 1961 act is being violated by 2020s-era broadcasting rights to pay streaming services.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
-
The senators' letter probes the potential political motivations of the investigation.—
Matt Peterson,Emily Wilkins,
CNBC,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Alabama case is part of a broader national wave of redistricting battles.—
Rena Rowe,
The Washington Examiner,
12 May 2026
-
In the legal battles that will follow, artificial intelligence may prove to be the sharpest tool in the courtroom.—
Philip Wang,
Time,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skirmishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skirmishes. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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