as in skirmish
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
several chairs were knocked over in the scuffle
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to shuffle
to move heavily or clumsily
she scuffled along in shoes that were much too large for her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to wrestle
to seize and attempt to unbalance one another for the purpose of achieving physical mastery
the burglar and the homeowner briefly scuffled together in the dark
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of scuffle
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 10 May 2025
The right-hander dominated the scuffling Rockies hitters, striking out 10, walking none, and allowing just three hits over seven innings.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 2 Apr. 2025
Two deputies at the scene heard cries for help and claimed to have seen the men scuffling through a window, with Lopez threatening Duran-Contreras with a knife.
—Cristóbal Reyes, Orlando Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2025
After scuffling for most of his early Masters career, DeChambeau has now recorded consecutive top-six finishes.
—Justin Ray, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scuffle
Verb
Jayson Tatum flirted with a triple-double (22 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, two steals) and went 5-for-9 from three after scuffling in Games 1 and 2.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 10 May 2025
The right-hander dominated the scuffling Rockies hitters, striking out 10, walking none, and allowing just three hits over seven innings.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 2 Apr. 2025
Two deputies at the scene heard cries for help and claimed to have seen the men scuffling through a window, with Lopez threatening Duran-Contreras with a knife.
—Cristóbal Reyes, Orlando Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2025
After scuffling for most of his early Masters career, DeChambeau has now recorded consecutive top-six finishes.
—Justin Ray, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scuffle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scuffle
Noun
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Nuñez warned that more skirmishes could occur on Sunday as PSG will parade on the Champs-Élysées before celebrating the title with their fans at the Parc des Princes stadium.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
1 June 2025
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Thailand and Cambodia have a long history of land disputes, though Thailand said after the short skirmish that the situation had been resolved.—
DAVID RISING,
Arkansas Online,
31 May 2025
Verb
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The team then trained three seals–Nick, Luca, and Miro–to shuffle into place in front of a large screen and showed them the simulations.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
29 May 2025
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The next generation's most exciting opportunities won't be found in shuffling digital information but in reimagining the physical world.—
Richard Lebovitz,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Verb
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The guards wrestle him to the ground and In-ho watches.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
31 May 2025
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As in Denver, cities across the country are wrestling with how to restore the pre-pandemic hustle and bustle to recharge what has historically been a crucial economic engine.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
31 May 2025
Noun
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Trump tests legal strategies as judges block his policies As the clash becomes a defining moment in the president's second term, conservative activists are pushing Congress to rein in federal judges and pressing Trump to intensify his fight with the courts.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
26 May 2025
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The clash between Villaraigosa’s environmentalist credentials and oil-industry ties surfaced in the governor’s race after Valero announced in late April that its Bay Area refinery would close next year, not long after Phillips 66 said its Wilmington refinery would close in 2025.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2025
Verb
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No one stumbled into creating a billion dollar company, gingerly broke a world record, or cautiously planned and lived their peak life.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
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And then there are those, like Mia, who stumble on their birth families inadvertently.—
Barbara Demick,
New Yorker,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Holland has been one of the more active UFC competitors since losing that contest by decision, fighting at middleweight and welterweight.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
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Only 14 of them are routinely available to fight brush fires, The Times previously reported.—
Alene Tchekmedyian,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2025
Noun
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Fires and recovery Crews battle fire burning in Pala, evacuations underway in northern San Diego County.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2025
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Recently, a German court quietly ended a landmark legal battle that had spanned nearly a decade.—
Monica Sanders,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
Verb
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In a world where we’re constantly reminded that physical media is dead — that the future is just algorithms stomping our faces, forever — the fact that the Criterion Closet has gone viral suggests that all is not lost.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
29 May 2025
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No one could agree on whether the brawl of as many as nine young men was limited to fists or if its participants were also kicking and stomping.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scuffle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scuffle. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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