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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of skirmishes
David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 27 Dec. 2025
For more than a century, Thailand and Cambodia have contested sovereignty at various undemarcated points along their 817-kilometer (508-mile) land border – a dispute that has occasionally exploded into skirmishes and fighting.
—CNN Money, 27 Dec. 2025
This has been interpreted as a rapprochement between China and India after decades of border skirmishes and maritime friction.
—Hyeran Jo, The Conversation, 18 Dec. 2025
The two got into multiple skirmishes as the intensity was turned up a notch.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 15 Dec. 2025
Simmering tension has occasionally exploded into skirmishes, such as a weeklong artillery exchange in 2011, despite attempts to peacefully resolve overlapping claims.
—Panarat Thepgumpanat, USA Today, 7 Dec. 2025
Amidst the peaceful marches and intense skirmishes, Bell intermittently highlights protestor voices.
—Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 5 Dec. 2025
Amid the skirmishes that ensued, federal agents fired a chemical agent toward a protester at near-point-blank range, and security personnel later opened fire on a U-Haul truck that had backed up toward a barrier on the island’s bridge, injuring the driver and an apparent bystander.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2025
Law enforcement officers have deployed tear gas and pepper balls in skirmishes with protesters.
—Natasha Korecki, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
Hundreds of thousands of civilians were displaced from their homes in both countries when border skirmishes broke out for the second time this year.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 27 Dec. 2025
For more than a century, Thailand and Cambodia have contested sovereignty at various undemarcated points along their 817-kilometer (508-mile) land border – a dispute that has occasionally exploded into skirmishes and fighting.
—CNN Money, 27 Dec. 2025
This has been interpreted as a rapprochement between China and India after decades of border skirmishes and maritime friction.
—Hyeran Jo, The Conversation, 18 Dec. 2025
The two got into multiple skirmishes as the intensity was turned up a notch.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 15 Dec. 2025
Simmering tension has occasionally exploded into skirmishes, such as a weeklong artillery exchange in 2011, despite attempts to peacefully resolve overlapping claims.
—Panarat Thepgumpanat, USA Today, 7 Dec. 2025
Amidst the peaceful marches and intense skirmishes, Bell intermittently highlights protestor voices.
—Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 5 Dec. 2025
Amid the skirmishes that ensued, federal agents fired a chemical agent toward a protester at near-point-blank range, and security personnel later opened fire on a U-Haul truck that had backed up toward a barrier on the island’s bridge, injuring the driver and an apparent bystander.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2025
Law enforcement officers have deployed tear gas and pepper balls in skirmishes with protesters.
—Natasha Korecki, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skirmishes
Noun
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Season 2 begins with Langdon's first day back in action, which will inevitably lead to some awkward encounters.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Jan. 2026
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Experts say there is no clear pattern behind recent shark encounters, emphasizing that the ocean is a dynamic environment where humans enter the natural habitat of marine predators.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Since Assad’s ousting, Syria has seen flare-ups of deadly sectarian violence, with clashes erupting between security forces and those loyal to the former president, including in Syria’s coastal Latakia region in March.—
Sophie Tanno,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
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As for South Sudan, a senior United Nations official said earlier this week that the ongoing conflict in Sudan is causing destabilization in South Sudan, including armed clashes and food insecurity.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Alabama prospects with the most to gain 5.—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
1 Jan. 2026
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Ahead of first pitch, Royals prospects David Shields and Carson Roccaforte were among those dressed in luxury suits to receive their organizational awards.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
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According to reports, there were fights in the snake-like queue that formed.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
6 Jan. 2026
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Town budgets, school boards, zoning fights, shoreline resilience — these are problems that punish purity.—
Robert T.F. Downes,
Hartford Courant,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Toe tap on the sideline for 17, then boxes out Greg Newsome for 14 more.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
21 Dec. 2025
-
This, alas, also boxes his constituents in.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
In Sentimental Value, the writer-director Joachim Trier probes the real purpose of confessional art.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Aside from the annual financial review, the CSU’s internal auditing process also probes the 23 campuses in its system, including their auxiliaries.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The facility, which is surrounded by the Everglades and Big Cypress National Preserve, also has led to separate legal battles in federal court.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Jan. 2026
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Soon the scene devolved into individual battles between officers and rioters.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The podcast explores the dark histories behind folklore.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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Set in the distant future, the series explores life at the legendary academy, where the first class in over 100 years is preparing for deep-space duty.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skirmishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skirmishes. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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