as in wrestled
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
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Recent Examples of tussled
The only other time two 40-year-old starting QBs tussled was when the New Orleans Saints’ Drew Brees took down Tom Brady’s Bucs twice in the 2020 regular season, but Brady had the last laugh beating Brees in the playoffs en route to winning the Super Bowl.
—
Coy Wire, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
The singer’s blond hair was tussled into a messy updo with strands of hair to frame Jackson’s face.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2025
This is not the first time Finkam and city councilors have tussled over management of the events and festivals Carmel has become known for.
—Jake Allen, IndyStar, 17 Sep. 2025
The order, part of a series targeting law firms Trump has tussled with, cited Susman Godfrey’s work on elections and said the government would not do business with any of its clients or permit any of its staff in federal buildings.
—Nicholas Riccardi, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2025
These supplies, though not as fancy as the latest kicks, the coolest backpack or the phones kids now have to be tussled with to put away in order to focus, are essentials in creating a learning environment where children can thrive.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 6 Aug. 2025
Coy Wire, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
The singer’s blond hair was tussled into a messy updo with strands of hair to frame Jackson’s face.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2025
This is not the first time Finkam and city councilors have tussled over management of the events and festivals Carmel has become known for.
—Jake Allen, IndyStar, 17 Sep. 2025
The order, part of a series targeting law firms Trump has tussled with, cited Susman Godfrey’s work on elections and said the government would not do business with any of its clients or permit any of its staff in federal buildings.
—Nicholas Riccardi, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2025
These supplies, though not as fancy as the latest kicks, the coolest backpack or the phones kids now have to be tussled with to put away in order to focus, are essentials in creating a learning environment where children can thrive.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tussled
Verb
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Horne first entered the ring in 1991 and later wrestled for WWE from 1993 until 1996, briefly winning the promotion’s tag team championship in March 1994 alongside the wrestler Mabel.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
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She was wrestled away from him as her crying children were held back by other agents.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The event was the latest public honoring of North Korean troops who fought in Russia to repel an incursion by Ukrainian forces.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
24 Oct. 2025
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In his remarks, Sures saluted his late father, who fought in Israel’s War of Independence in 1948.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tussled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tussled. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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