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
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
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Recent Examples of tussle
Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Johnson is already in a separate TIF tussle involving Chicago Public Schools and his office did not respond to requests for comment about plans for the burgeoning fund once its CTA commitment is complete.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 31 July 2025
Iron Man 3' (2013) The results are only so-so as Tony Stark tussles with PTSD, criminally underused antagonist Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) and yawn-worthy villain Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce).
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tussle
Noun
There's a very solid chance the Yankees and Red Sox will meet up for a best-of-three series to start the playoffs, so Chisholm is wise not to show any intimidation at the thought of another tussle with the division foe.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Johnson is already in a separate TIF tussle involving Chicago Public Schools and his office did not respond to requests for comment about plans for the burgeoning fund once its CTA commitment is complete.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
George Russell and Charles Leclerc tussle for the best of the rest.
—Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 31 July 2025
Iron Man 3' (2013) The results are only so-so as Tony Stark tussles with PTSD, criminally underused antagonist Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) and yawn-worthy villain Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce).
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tussle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tussle
Noun
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The cutbacks are the result of a clash over two budgets—the SEPTA budget and the Pennsylvania budget.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
4 Sep. 2025
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An opening clash in Luxembourg is followed up by a bout against the four-time world champions in Cologne, as Michael O’Neill’s young team dreams of emulating the side that made it to the 1986 tournament in Mexico.—
Jack Bantock,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For an island whose economy has long wrestled with the effects and aftershocks of natural disasters, fiscal crises, and inconsistent tourism, this is a very significant boost.—
Doug Melville,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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In addition to the strategic clarity for the Murdoch media empire, this deal resolved a potentially chaotic civil war that could have ensued if the siblings wrestled for control between themselves.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Still one of the NFL’s nastiest division rivalries, the game was full of skirmishes and a near-costly unnecessary roughness penalty late in the third against the Eagles that put the Cowboys in position to take the lead.—
Dan Gelston,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
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Ideological skirmishes over the motives and obligations of Carpenter’s music include both sincere interrogation of its feminism and smirking counteractive reprisals to that scrutiny.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Among other resources, two engines have also been deployed to fight the wildfire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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Her grandfather served in World War II and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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When a person is gravely ill, they’re often forced to fight two battles, one against their sickness and the other against the insurance company.—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
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Looking back at Charlotte’s recent FCS opponents, dating back to 2021, the 49ers haven’t won the turnover battle in any of the four matchups, resulting in uncomfortably close games and even a lopsided loss to William & Mary in 2022.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The decision stems from a class action lawsuit filed during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the financial struggles of disabled individuals who lost part-time jobs.—
Laura Schulte,
jsonline.com,
5 Sep. 2025
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During an appearance on Today With Jenna & Friends, Cummings, 43, candidly joked about her experience with postpartum depression after welcoming her son Henry back in December 2023, sharing that her struggles even inspired the name of her ongoing Big Baby tour.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The match was played on August 31, and a scuffle broke out between both teams after the final whistle.—
Felipe Cardenas,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
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But the scuffle escalated when clips posted on social media showed Suárez arguing with a Sounders staff member before appearing to spit in his face.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tussle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tussle. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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