tussle 1 of 2

noun

ˈtə-səl How to pronounce tussle (audio)
Definition of tusslenext
as in clash
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups a small tussle on the basketball court was quickly broken up

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tussle

2 of 2

verb

as in to wrestle
to seize and attempt to unbalance one another for the purpose of achieving physical mastery puppies tussling with one another, rolling over and over on the carpet

Synonyms & Similar 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 tussle
Noun
As his tussles with grief and sobriety and heartbreak appear in flashes, so do red and blue police lights. — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 26 June 2026 The legal tussles boil down to whether the federal government or the states have primary authority to oversee prediction markets, which allow users to bet on the outcome of sports, elections and many other events. — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 24 June 2026
Verb
Over the past month, the administration has tussled with Anthropic and OpenAI over releasing their latest models to the public. — Jared Perlo, NBC news, 29 June 2026 But the Americans tussled right back, and never totally lost their cool. — Sean Gregory, Time, 20 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for tussle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tussle
  1. clash
  2. wrestle
  3. skirmish
  4. fight
  5. battle
  6. scuffle
  7. struggle
Noun
  • The potential path is long and demanding, starting with the visit of Pyunik on Wednesday evening for a first qualifying round clash that will see the winners take on either Northern Ireland’s Glentoran or Latvian side Riga.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • As part of these clashes, Israel twice launched significant air strikes on Iran—the second time ravaging Iran’s air defenses.
    — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
Definition of clash
Verb
  • But there’s a difference between narrating crime scenes at a remove and wrestling with the lingering morality of it all.
    — Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 17 July 2026
  • The 23-year-old Vancouver native leans into analog indie rock, using story songs and confessional lyrics to wrestle with relationships, future anxieties and the challenges of growing up in the public eye.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of wrestle
Noun
  • In that contest, Clark was assessed a technical foul for loudly clapping in the direction of Mercury players during a skirmish, which White said the officials deemed as taunting.
    — James Boyd, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • Oil prices jumped 6% on the news, following a violent weekend of skirmishes in the Persian Gulf as both sides attempted to assert control over the strait.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 13 July 2026
Definition of skirmish
Verb
  • The king successfully fought a hundred men and emerged victorious, but not before killing Antinous in Sinon’s name.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 18 July 2026
  • Rhodes fought out of it and dodged a running boot from Gunther.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
Definition of fight
Noun
  • The war’s new weapon What began as a ground war has evolved into a battle increasingly fought from the air.
    — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • The battle harks back to the January 2025 Eaton fire which spread toxic ash over swaths of Altadena and Pasadena.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026
Definition of battle
Noun
  • Candace Parker scores 21 points and DeLisha Milton-Jones adds 19 before both are ejected after a scuffle in the final minute as the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Detroit Shock 84-81 at Auburn Hills, Mich.
    — Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026
  • Members of the Indian National Congress (INC) scuffle with police during a march to Lok Bhavan in Hyderabad, Telangana, India, on July 22, 2026.
    — Connor Greene, Time, 22 July 2026
Definition of scuffle
Noun
  • Or maybe England’s much maligned Bukayo Saka shaking off early struggles to finish with a hat trick?
    — Sergio Gonzalez, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • The ongoing campaign, now in its second week, began with a struggle over control of the Strait of Hormuz.
    — Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026
Definition of struggle

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Cite this Entry

“Tussle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tussle. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of tussle for Spanish Speakers

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