scuffle 1 of 2

noun

Definition of scufflenext
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

scuffle

2 of 2

verb

ˈskə-fəl How to pronounce scuffle (audio)
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 show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of scuffle
Noun
Sunshine and Hamza stage a streetside scuffle that escalates beyond expectations. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026 Both father and son were wounded in the scuffle, with the younger man being stabbed in the head, lower back and right shoulder, while his dad was stabbed in his knee and slashed on his stomach, cops said. — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
Some pushed against barricades and scuffled with police, who responded by firing tear gas rounds, using water cannon and beating them with batons, TV footage showed. — Reuters, NBC news, 11 Aug. 2026 The room was thick with the din of 1,400 men packed inside a stone box—their voices, the sound of feet scuffling on the floor, and their hands moving restlessly atop the tables, echoing. — Literary Hub, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for scuffle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scuffle
  1. skirmish
  2. shuffle
  3. wrestle
  4. clash
  5. stumble
  6. fight
  7. battle
  8. stomp
Noun
  • Ties between the two countries, which had deteriorated sharply following a deadly border skirmish in 2020, have been thawing for more than a year.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The duo walks away from this skirmish, though not unscathed, as Samjad quickly and economically sets up a blistering saga of stylish reprisals with no holds barred.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of skirmish
Verb
  • Ivey and his partner persuaded the Crockfords dealer to rotate the high-value cards 180 degrees before shuffling them back into the pack, citing some obscure superstition as justification.
    — Kit Chellel, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
  • In the midst of the rush to finish my syllabi and opening week assignments, as my husband shuffled the kids into their sneakers and Crocs and the car for one last back-to-school outing, everything stopped.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of shuffle
Verb
  • The album folded electronic textures, orchestral flourishes, studio experimentation and huge melodies into songs that wrestled with politics, mortality, love, fear and the strange business of being alive.
    — SPIN Staff, SPIN, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Related Explore See latest videos, charts and news Set between about 1968 and 1980, McCartney starts on his isolated Scottish farm with his wife, Linda, and growing family, wrestling with what to do with his newfound freedom.
    — Kristin Robinson, Billboard, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of wrestle
Noun
  • After spending some time playing in a (very cool) makeshift stadium on the shores of Lake Michigan, the Northwestern Wildcats finally christened the new Ryan Field in an important Big Ten clash with Penn State.
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The Buffs and the Blue Raiders are undefeated in district play and will face off in a high-stakes Week 7 clash.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of clash
Verb
  • Almost sounds silly now, with the way the team has stumbled and bumbled its way through the first four games.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Of the seven clubs that had 14 or more players from their organizations appear in the WBC, several stumbled early and only the Phillies and Brewers made the postseason.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of stumble
Verb
  • Kosovo has criticized the verdicts as unjust, maintaining that the KLA, which Thaci had led before entering politics, fought against Serbian oppression.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
  • His emphasis on fighting crime, his anti-left agenda and his confrontations with the Supreme Federal Court and Brazil’s political establishment directly appeal to issues that have mobilized Bolsonaro’s base for years.
    — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of fight
Noun
  • Chinese media reported that PLA forces deployed Type 99A main battle tanks alongside drones, uncrewed ground vehicles and helicopters.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Alabama and Mississippi State battle, and Underdog is offering new users a chance to use promo code FOXNEWS to earn up to $100 in bonus bets on a $5 wager.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of battle
Verb
  • The answer isn’t between stomping the gas pedal or leaving the car parked.
    — Bob Ackerman, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Handclaps, stomping percussion and a communal chorus create the kind of infectious energy that naturally gets people moving.
    — qygwork, Billboard, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of stomp

Browse Nearby Words

scuffing (up)
scuffle
scuffled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scuffle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scuffle. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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