tussle 1 of 2

noun

ˈtə-səl How to pronounce tussle (audio)
Definition of tusslenext
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

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
Curry truffle wins tussle as Ramen Rumble era comes to close, raising over $100K for Give Kids The World Village in 10-year run. — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026 In the 1997 film, the title character (Brendan Fraser) tussles with the beast before rescuing Ursula (Mann). — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026
Verb
Christian and Emmett, now 9 and 11, were home for summer break while her beloved white-and-tan corgis tussled nearby. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 30 July 2026 There’s nothing like it—the sun shining, a warm breeze tussling your hair, waves rushing onto the shore, and breathing in the fresh, salty air. — Susan B. Barnes, Southern Living, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for tussle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tussle
  1. clash
  2. wrestle
  3. skirmish
  4. fight
  5. battle
  6. scuffle
  7. struggle
Noun
  • Parkinson usually plays things a bit straighter with the media, but his presence in the away dugout did provide the 20,056-capacity crowd — and an audience watching on TV on both sides of the Atlantic — with a fascinating clash of styles.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Disappointment over a relationship rift flares as the moon and Saturn clash.
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of clash
Verb
  • Their leaders, gathered for a summit in Palau this week, are wrestling once more with the question of how tiny countries with little global power can use major polluters’ geopolitical interest in their region to secure a chance of survival.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
  • One year after her passing, Miquel wrestles with grief, desire, and the weight of change as the construction of a new bridge stands to open up his remote village.
    — Mary Lawrence Ware, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of wrestle
Noun
  • There was a brief skirmish in the end zone after Howell's 2-point conversion run.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Its outcome will be a major milestone in the decades-long political skirmishes over CEQA.
    — Dan Walters, Oc Register, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of skirmish
Verb
  • Their arrival is also welcome for many locals, battered by the economic impact of the Iran war their American visitors were fighting.
    — Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026
  • When ships are fighting in narrow waterways under heavy surveillance, visibility quickly becomes a deadly liability.
    — HOLMES LIAO, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of fight
Noun
  • Don’t shrink to avoid disagreement, but don’t make everything a battle for control either.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Mustafa, who was born in Iraqi Kurdistan and fled to Norway as a child, said the film was inspired by his encounter with a female Peshmerga sniper during the 2014 frontline battles, as female Kurdish fighters countered Islamic State attacks.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of battle
Noun
  • The scuffle escalated, police say, when Hoempler pulled out a semi-automatic pistol from his waistband and shot all three men.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Sunshine and Hamza stage a streetside scuffle that escalates beyond expectations.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of scuffle
Noun
  • Countries with far smaller digital ecosystems, like Cambodia and Laos, have even greater struggles to attract and retain AI talent.
    — Brian Wong, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Underwood wasn’t Michigan’s only problem, but his struggles were impossible to ignore.
    — Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of struggle

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tushes
tussle
tussled
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Cite this Entry

“Tussle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tussle. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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