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
Jeffrey Ressner,
HollywoodReporter,
3 June 2026
After a tussle over control of the weapon, according to village officials, Wallace regained possession of the weapon and the officer subsequently shot Wallace with his own service weapon.
—
Cam'ron Hardy,
Chicago Tribune,
1 June 2026
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
27 May 2026
Kevin Keegan and Arsene Wenger tussled with Sir Alex Ferguson, and in the years that followed, Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez battled in the league and in Europe.
—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tussle
Noun
After the zapfest on Earth, the anti-climactic tussle between the forces of good and evil occurs back on Eternia, where He-Man and his nemesis cross swords in a clumsy fight that’s not only predictable but also photographed and edited poorly.
—
Jeffrey Ressner,
HollywoodReporter,
3 June 2026
After a tussle over control of the weapon, according to village officials, Wallace regained possession of the weapon and the officer subsequently shot Wallace with his own service weapon.
—
Cam'ron Hardy,
Chicago Tribune,
1 June 2026
Verb
The two Democrats have frequently tussled for moral high ground over their connections to industries that voters might see as unsavory.
—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
27 May 2026
Kevin Keegan and Arsene Wenger tussled with Sir Alex Ferguson, and in the years that followed, Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez battled in the league and in Europe.
—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tussle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tussle
Noun
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Enter Maddie’s Secret, Early’s directorial debut, which follows a chef at GourMaybe Test Kitchen whose rising place in the food-influencer world clashes with her lifelong struggle with bulimia.
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Local media reported the clashes erupted because of frustrations over the delays in the migrants' returning home.
Verb
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Nearly 50 years later, the IRS and courts are still wrestling with how that exception applies to modern entities, including LLCs, LLPs, and foreign partnership-like structures that were not contemplated when the rule was drafted.
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Another clip shows people wrestling and exchanging blows in knee-deep water as bystanders shout and record the chaos on their phones.
Noun
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While the war ended years before, the hostility spread from the stands — with skirmishes among supporters — into the field, when Maradona tricked the referee and the world with the World Cup’s most infamous goal, punching the ball into the net with his fist above England’s goalie Peter Shilton.
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Continue reading … — Two arrested as skirmishes erupt outside courthouse after Karmelo Anthony verdict.
Verb
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Starmer has vowed to fight any leadership contest, deepening the sense of crisis within the Labour Party.
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Police said the bail agent and driver fought, and the agent fired one round, with the bullet striking the suspect in the arm.
Noun
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Riff argued the issue to halt the payout was not a legal battle but rather a political one.
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While the first half of the match was full of battles and speed runs from one goal to another, the players seem to be taking a more methodical pace after returning from the locker room.
Noun
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Lalas’ apparent delight in courting the enmity of the American viewing public also extends to his co-hosts—so much so that his early verbal scuffles with Zlatan Ibrahimović have gone more viral than whooping cough.
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Bonner, Thomas, Hines-Allen and Fever guard Sophie Cunningham were also assessed technical fouls for their actions during the scuffle.
Noun
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Thomas, 25, has seen limited playing time this season due to some offensive struggles.
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Carvalho’s struggles included a three-day strike in March 2023.
Cite this Entry
“Tussle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tussle. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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