skir·mish
ˈskər-mish 
1
: a minor fight in war usually incidental to larger movements
2
a
: a brisk preliminary verbal conflict
b
: a minor dispute or contest between opposing parties
the debate touched off a skirmish
skirmished; skirmishing; skirmishes
skirmisher
noun
Examples of skirmish in a Sentence
Noun
Skirmishes broke out between rebel groups.
Violent skirmishes with the enemy continue despite talks of peace.
Verb
Rebel groups are skirmishing with military forces.
The presidential candidates skirmished over their economic plans.
Recent Examples on the Web
Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2025
Amazon Prime commentator Kirk Herbstreit said as a guess at Rodgers' response to Jones, as footage of the sideline near-skirmish played for viewers.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2025
The two sides have also skirmished along the border in the past.
—NPR, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skirmish
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Noun
Amid the skirmishes that ensued, federal agents fired a chemical agent toward a protester at near-point-blank range, and security personnel later opened fire on a U-Haul truck that had backed up toward a barrier on the island’s bridge, injuring the driver and an apparent bystander.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2025
Amazon Prime commentator Kirk Herbstreit said as a guess at Rodgers' response to Jones, as footage of the sideline near-skirmish played for viewers.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
The Israeli army and Hamas are still skirmishing along the cease-fire line.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2025
The two sides have also skirmished along the border in the past.
—NPR, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skirmish
Cite this Entry
“Skirmish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skirmish. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
skirmish
1 of 2 noun
skir·mish
ˈskər-mish
1
: a minor fight between small bodies of troops
2
: a minor dispute or contest
skirmish
2 of 2 verb1
: to engage in a skirmish
2
: to search about (as for supplies)
skirmisher
noun
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