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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of tussle
Nicole Edenedo, AFAR Media, 26 Aug. 2025
There's a very solid chance the Yankees and Red Sox will meet up for a best-of-three series to start the playoffs, so Chisholm is wise not to show any intimidation at the thought of another tussle with the division foe.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 5 Aug. 2025
George Russell and Charles Leclerc tussle for the best of the rest.
—Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tussle
Noun
Expect to see Wild West performances on and off the train, like a tussle between the Cataract Creek Gang and the town Marshall on the departure platform, a robbery from rowdy cowboys on horseback who hop aboard the train, and banjo players serenading guests with western tunes.
—Nicole Edenedo, AFAR Media, 26 Aug. 2025
There's a very solid chance the Yankees and Red Sox will meet up for a best-of-three series to start the playoffs, so Chisholm is wise not to show any intimidation at the thought of another tussle with the division foe.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
The unaccompanied minor change was made at least partially in response to a viral video that showed a group of teens tussling near a row of carnival games.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 5 Aug. 2025
George Russell and Charles Leclerc tussle for the best of the rest.
—Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tussle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tussle
Noun
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Those clashes became viral videos that cemented his reputation as a culture warrior.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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On November 25, the La Liga holders travel to Stamford Bridge for a mouthwatering clash with the reigning Club World Cup kings.—
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Instead of encouraging students to wrestle with opposing views, many campuses reward silence or groupthink.—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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But while salons have offered steam treatments as a curly hair staple for decades, at-home steamers have been too bulky (attempting to replicate in-salon domes) or too hard to use, requiring you to wrestle your curls into heated thermal caps, a battle that’s easy to lose.—
Megan McIntyre,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Still one of the NFL’s nastiest division rivalries, the game was full of skirmishes and a near-costly unnecessary roughness penalty late in the third against the Eagles that put the Cowboys in position to take the lead.—
Dan Gelston,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
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Ideological skirmishes over the motives and obligations of Carpenter’s music include both sincere interrogation of its feminism and smirking counteractive reprisals to that scrutiny.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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How do Flock cameras help fight crime?—
Jennifer Jolly,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
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These medications can lower the number of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that helps fight bacterial infections.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Republicans were unfazed by Democrats threatening to withhold their votes, accusing them of hypocrisy for condemning GOP efforts to win policy concessions in past funding battles.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Sep. 2025
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The iconic items fit well in this book given how many Avengers don’t feel complete without a gadget or mystical item to carry into battle.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The combination of strange comments, a clear lack of education and experience, and a disturbing personal history with mental health struggles and domestic problems doomed his campaign.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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Appreciation means valuing the struggle of learning, not despite its difficulty but because of it.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The end-of-session scuffle did not seem to phase senators, who voted Thursday afternoon to send the bill to the governor’s desk in its new form.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Dozens of protesters were arrested and there were some scuffles with police.—
Stephane Mahe,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tussle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tussle. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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