Synonyms of tussle

tussle 1 of 2

noun

ˈtə-səl 

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

• clash
• skirmish
• battle
• fight
• scuffle
• struggle
• brawl
• fray
• dustup
• contest
• fracas
• confrontation
• conflict
• altercation
• scrimmage
• duel
• combat
• scrum
• quarrel
• scrap
• dispute
• spat
• rough-and-tumble
• fistfight
• squabble
• fisticuffs
• hassle
• blows
• melee
• slugfest
• tangle
• pitched battle
• mix-up
• ruckus
• battle royal
• donnybrook
• face-off
• punch-up
• controversy
• joust
• affray
• wrangle
• catfight
• free-for-all
• tiff
• row
• falling-out
• ruction
• contretemps
• broil
• punch-out
• misunderstanding
• disagreement
• grapple
• cross fire
• argument
• kickup
• argy-bargy
• handgrips
• argle-bargle

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

• wrestle
• fight
• brawl
• scuffle
• grapple
• battle
• rassle
• duel
• contend
• skirmish
• combat
• war (against)
• hit
• punch
• strike
• clash (with)
• box
• slug
• spar
• buffet
• batter
• bash
• beat

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tussle

Noun

The legal tussles boil down to whether the federal government or the states have primary authority to oversee prediction markets, which allow users to bet on the outcome of sports, elections and many other events. — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 24 June 2026

The race for the Golden Boot is not only shaping up to be a classic, but a fantastic tussle between the biggest stars in the game. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 23 June 2026

Verb

Bowser tussled with Trump for much of 2025 over deploying the National Guard and briefly taking over the city's police department while cooperating with the White House on other matters such as clearing homeless encampments. — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 17 June 2026

Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who tussled with Dolan over his decision to cancel MSG's outdoor watch party Wednesday night, kept his focus on the game and the excitement of the Knicks' historic come-from-behind victory on Thursday. — Marcia Kramer, CBS News, 11 June 2026