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

The tussle over the soccer match also comes with Spain still reeling from a massive border crossing by tens of thousands of migrants who pushed through the frontier from Morocco into the north African Spanish enclave in late July. — ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026 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

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

The social media clash also comes as El-Sayed faces criticism over his responses to questions about Iran’s regime and Islamist organizations.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
In a clash of the top two teams in FIFA’s rankings, played before a sellout crowd of 19,220, the visitors left the home side shell-shocked with two spectacular strikes.

— Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of clash

Verb

Unlike Netflix, Disney is wrestling with the ongoing deterioration of linear TV.

— Todd Spangler, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Countless poets have wrestled with this question, either writing about dreams directly or invoking them through the dreamlike manipulation of words and ideas.

— The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of wrestle

Noun

This leads to even more behind-the-scenes skirmishes laced with character-centric comedy, as opposing factions align.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Ties between the two countries remain strained over their long-running Himalayan border dispute, which erupted into a deadly skirmishes in 2020 that saw soldiers from both sides use rocks and iron rods in brutal hand-to-hand combat.

— Helen Regan, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of skirmish

Verb

The rebels urged their forces to continue fighting and called on Tigrayans to support them.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
North Korean engineers have learned from time spent working in Russia’s massive Yelabuga drone factory, and North Korean forces fighting alongside Russia have gained firsthand experience in integrating drones into modern combat.

— Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 16 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

Thousands of people marched through central Brussels in a protest that was largely peaceful, although some scuffles broke out with police, who used tear gas and water cannons in some instances.

— Makini Brice, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
In the video of the event posted to social media, Lennear did not appear to be involved in the scuffle.

— Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of scuffle

Noun

Hernández said the group wanted to use the platform to bring further awareness to the struggles immigrants continue to face in this country with an audience that notably skews more American than Los Tigres is accustomed to.

— Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Hollywood executives at a panel featuring UTA, Gold House, Lionsgate and HYBE saw an opening for Asian talent and stories rooted in specific cultures, while conceding that getting projects funded is still a struggle.

— Ophélie Surcouf, Variety, 16 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 17 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of tussle

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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