TUSSLE Synonyms: 77 Similar and Opposite Words

tussle 1 of 2

noun

ˈtə-səl

Definition of tussle

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

truce

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

And there was a whole lot of tussle among the top players in the women’s draw Sunday. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026 The Coastal Commission signed off on the project a few years ago, after tussles over low-cost housing provisions during the course of erecting yet another luxury hotel. — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Verb

Madden tussled with the co-op, at one point unsuccessfully trying to buy the fourth-floor apartment to make a duplex of her own. — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026 He was seen dancing at San Diego Comic Con, getting arrested in Times Square, giving out free hugs on the Santa Monica Pier, and tussling with an AMC employee over a bag of popcorn. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tussle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tussle

Noun

After spending some time playing in a (very cool) makeshift stadium on the shores of Lake Michigan, the Northwestern Wildcats finally christened the new Ryan Field in an important Big Ten clash with Penn State.

— Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
The Buffs and the Blue Raiders are undefeated in district play and will face off in a high-stakes Week 7 clash.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of clash

Verb

Why attendance is the number to watch Even in a traditional school year, districts across Texas have been wrestling with chronic absenteeism since COVID-19.

— Lina Ruiz October 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Oct. 2026
As Grammy season comes into full swing, one of the biggest questions the Recording Academy will need to wrestle with is how to handle the current surge in popularity for country music.

— Alan Light, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of wrestle

Noun

Mark Stephens, of the Howard Kennedy law firm in London, described the hearing as a preliminary skirmish in the broader legal battle.

— Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Ties between the two countries, which had deteriorated sharply following a deadly border skirmish in 2020, have been thawing for more than a year.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of skirmish

Verb

Her body was found while clearing rubble and fighting a fire at the site, Tymur Tkachenko, head of the regional military administration, said Friday.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
Eventually, Ley hopes, the results could help fight this side effect of vaccines and, by extension, encourage higher vaccination rates.

— Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of fight

Noun

In yet another battle between the states and social media platforms, Florida asked a state judge to order changes on Instagram and Facebook in an effort to protect young users.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
At the same time, Hollister was also engaged in a lengthy courtroom battle with Perry and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles over the rights to another property, a Los Feliz convent the singer hoped to turn into a private home.

— Mickey Rapkin, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of battle

Noun

Now, the sequence is more likely to end in shouted abuse and maybe a scuffle, the video shot on phones and streamed — sometimes live — on platforms like Kick or Facebook.

— Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2026
At first, the scuffle only involved the original two women, but quickly chaos broke out as smaller fights broke out all over from around a dozen friends or spectators, the report read.

— Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of scuffle

Noun

Together, the songs take longtime Prine fans and new followers more deeply into his vivid approach to songwriting, which gave voice to the lives, emotions, struggles and celebrations of everyday people.

— Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2026
The heat is sweltering, mosquitoes buzz around the apartment and routine tasks are a constant struggle.

— Catherine Ellis, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of struggle

Browse Nearby Words

tushes

tussle

tussled

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“Tussle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tussle. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of tussle

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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