as in skirmishes
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
as in wrestles
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
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Recent Examples of tussles
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 8 May 2026
In later years Coe had serious tussles with the IRS, causing debt, bankruptcy and the lost of publishing rights to even his biggest hits.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2026
There hasn’t been that kind of bad blood that has leaked out in the Canadiens-Lightning and Flyers-Penguins tussles.
—Chris Johnston, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
After Dobbins was shelved before Week 11, the Broncos still had seven more regular-season games on the fight card and two more postseason tussles — and would’ve been three if Nix had been healthy.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
Through their relationship, as the duo tussles over everything from hedge cutting to how to handle their resident storks, the film explores whether land is intended for food production, or whether saving the natural world should be prioritized at all costs.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 2 Mar. 2026
That plan was delayed for years by litigation from preservationists and legal and political tussles with Miami elected officials, including now former Mayor Francis Suarez, who tried to block demolition.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 15 Jan. 2026
Multiple unnecessary tussles with the SEC, including a settlement that cost him $20 million and his position of Tesla chair for three years.
—Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 31 Dec. 2025
As a result, high borrowing costs and legal tussles with restive foreign investors have left the country unable to take on debt abroad for most of the past two decades.
—Arkansas Online, 7 Dec. 2025
Noun
Lily and the other sheep encounter some scary dogs one night, and there are a few tussles between both human and animal characters.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 8 May 2026
In later years Coe had serious tussles with the IRS, causing debt, bankruptcy and the lost of publishing rights to even his biggest hits.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2026
There hasn’t been that kind of bad blood that has leaked out in the Canadiens-Lightning and Flyers-Penguins tussles.
—Chris Johnston, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
After Dobbins was shelved before Week 11, the Broncos still had seven more regular-season games on the fight card and two more postseason tussles — and would’ve been three if Nix had been healthy.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
Through their relationship, as the duo tussles over everything from hedge cutting to how to handle their resident storks, the film explores whether land is intended for food production, or whether saving the natural world should be prioritized at all costs.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 2 Mar. 2026
That plan was delayed for years by litigation from preservationists and legal and political tussles with Miami elected officials, including now former Mayor Francis Suarez, who tried to block demolition.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 15 Jan. 2026
Multiple unnecessary tussles with the SEC, including a settlement that cost him $20 million and his position of Tesla chair for three years.
—Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 31 Dec. 2025
As a result, high borrowing costs and legal tussles with restive foreign investors have left the country unable to take on debt abroad for most of the past two decades.
—Arkansas Online, 7 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tussles
Noun
-
One of those skirmishes, in fact, involved Childress himself, in 2011 at Kansas Speedway, when the then-65-year-old car owner for an opposing team got into a physical altercation with Busch after an on-track incident.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
6 June 2026
-
Inconspicuous blows against Denver escalated to skirmishes.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
The officer then wrestles the woman to the ground.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
-
If Kittle wrestles a crocodile down under, who is winning?—
Matt Barrows,
New York Times,
19 May 2026
Noun
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And intense clashes at a New Jersey immigration center about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from where the World Cup final will be held are a reminder of the tests facing the White House.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
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Slovenia’s Soča Valley carries World War I history — a museum in Kobarid covers the clashes between Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces — while Grossglockner, Austria’s highest peak, offers turquoise lakes at the glacier’s edge.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
The government fights the fly by breeding sterile male flies, which then mate with wild females that only mate once in their monthslong life.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
-
Tom's Watch Bar in Navy Yard and Public Bar Live in Dupont Circle are often regarded as two of the most popular places to watch UFC fights in the city.—
Mike Stunson,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Staal’s still elite at winning defensive zone puck battles, which helps tee up Ehlers to play to his strengths and gives the Canes an all-three-zone impact in their minutes that has added up to a 66 percent xG rate.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
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Calvert shares similar views and has survived an ethics complaint and two previous redistricting battles during his 33 years in Congress.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tussles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tussles. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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