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
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
With Freedman’s representation in pocket, events already are in motion that indicate a legal tussle is in the making — perhaps behind closed doors, perhaps not.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 28 May 2026
Belinda Luscombe, Time, 28 Apr. 2026
Analysts say Altman and Musk tussled over who would lead the company, and Musk lost.
—John Ruwitch, NPR, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tussle
Noun
The odds are that many of the state-level laws would run afoul of a federal mandate, and a tsunami of legal cases would arise as a tussle between federal law and state law is undertaken.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
With Freedman’s representation in pocket, events already are in motion that indicate a legal tussle is in the making — perhaps behind closed doors, perhaps not.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 28 May 2026
Verb
Just as her characters tussle with the frailties installed during their upbringings, Strout, the daughter of a schoolteacher mother and parasitologist father who was also a congregationalist deacon, has reckoned with her roots.
—Belinda Luscombe, Time, 28 Apr. 2026
Analysts say Altman and Musk tussled over who would lead the company, and Musk lost.
—John Ruwitch, NPR, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tussle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tussle
Noun
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The acquisition also created an opportunity for some friendly clubhouse banter, particularly because Lauer spent years trying to beat the Dodgers while pitching for rival organizations, most notably during the teams’ epic clash in last year’s World Series.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
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Last year, clashes between the Kashmiri group’s supporters and security forces killed several people, including police officers.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
Verb
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Officers Coggins and Pacholsky wrestled with the man as Jeffery tried to secure the gun.—
Clifford Ward,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2026
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Like India, Indonesia has been wrestling with a falling currency, and on May 20, the country's central bank raised its policy interest rates by a larger-than-expected 50 basis points.—
Sri Jegarajah,Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Inconspicuous blows against Denver escalated to skirmishes.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
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Meanwhile, the religious right profited handsomely from the skirmish.—
Isaac Butler,
New Yorker,
30 May 2026
Verb
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While Hulst tried to fight his way through traffic, Serna was in unfamiliar territory.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
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Aspiring journalist Lily’s camera was recording when the OPEF Marines invaded and began killing both Marsies and the Peacekeepers force that was actually aligned with the Marines and fighting against the Marsies.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Losing that battle could cost him more than $100 million, according to the Times.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
5 June 2026
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It is embedded within the city’s historic Jackson Park, a decision that was met with legal battles as an environmental group sued the City of Chicago for allowing a private project to be built on public land.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Noun
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In reality, little was lost in the scuffle over the conceptual work.—
Devorah Lauter,
ARTnews.com,
1 June 2026
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The scuffle led to a heated exchange in a group chat later in the night before Valle and his friends went to the house party on Laurel Glenn Drive.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
1 June 2026
Noun
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The record of my thinking is right there in the open, teaching me tolerance for my fumbling, training me not to hide my struggle behind a seamless façade of digital perfection.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
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Last week, the Fulton County Sheriff's Office announced the jail will stop accepting most misdemeanor arrestees beginning July 1, pointing to struggles with the conditions at the jail and struggles dealing with overcrowding.—
Madeline Montgomery,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tussle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tussle. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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