SKIRMISHES Synonyms: 141 Similar and Opposite Words

skirmishes 1 of 2

noun

plural of skirmish

as in encounters

a brief clash between enemies or rivals the candidates' first debate was only a skirmish in a very long campaign

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in clashes

a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups throughout the week of the convention, police engaged in skirmishes with some of the demonstrators

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

truces

skirmishes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of skirmish

as in brawls

Related Words

as in prospects

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Dissimilar 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 skirmishes

Noun

Oasis’s Live ’25 was one of the biggest tours of the decade, marking the band’s first performances in 15 years after brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher’s intense skirmishes led to the band breaking up in 2009. — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026 Asgari highlights these minor skirmishes through life itself (whether at its most verbose, or in complete silence) via minor aesthetic transformations which play in major keys, and prove deeply moving. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026 Others speak of letting go and moving on, hinting at ideological skirmishes between nihilism and existentialism which aren’t quite allowed to emerge from beneath the film’s oppressive wordiness until late into its runtime. — Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2026 Its outcome will be a major milestone in the decades-long political skirmishes over CEQA. — Dan Walters, Oc Register, 26 Aug. 2026 In 1988, for instance, Khomeini finally agreed to end his war with Iraq after the United States began engaging Iranian naval ships in direct skirmishes, leading him to fear that Reagan might formally align with Saddam Hussein’s regime. — Nate Swanson, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026 There were certainly more skirmishes between the Eagles offense and Patriots defense. — Zach Berman, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 Players from the Cowboys and the Saints threw punches during several skirmishes throughout the joint practice, which was conducted in uncommonly hot, humid weather in the coastal town. — ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026 But what stuck out more than the Giants’ toughness in those skirmishes was their football stamina. — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for skirmishes

Noun

Koltai asks visitors to communicate their expectations and boundaries, but acknowledges that people can feel violated and that staff aren’t always present or equipped to monitor encounters.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Oct. 2026
The 2011 film is told through three outlaws’ expeditions and encounters through 1870s Texas.

— Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of encounters

Noun

The student rallies, now stretching into their third week after violent clashes with police, mass school closures and thousands of arrests, are expected to resume on Thursday.

— Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms tried to make President Donald Trump the focus of one of the debate’s sharpest clashes.

— AJC.com, AJC.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of clashes

Verb

The Bank of Canada warned this month that new tariffs had made the country’s growth prospects more uncertain and increased upside risks to inflation.

— Jenni Reid, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026
Bringing in a new centre-back would mean Cancelo and Martin could be the first-team left-backs, supported by La Masia prospects Xavi Espart, 19, and Jordi Pesquer, 17.

— Andy Naylor, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of prospects

Noun

Two of Iowa’s four Republican House members, both in their own worrying reelection fights, had just broken with the president to vote to stop the war with Iran.

— Natalie Allison, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2026
The company stages live fights where people remotely control humanoid robots against other humanoid robots.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of fights

Verb

Guests learned about red panda conservation and were able to support the zoo’s red pandas through special animal adoption boxes available for purchase.

— Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026
Pack in a picnic lunch from Ventura’s Harbor Cove Cafe, which boxes up sandwiches and snacks for visitors to the Channel Islands.

— Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of boxes

Verb

Bella’s childhood friend Angus (Jake Simmance), a corporate jerk, condescendingly probes Johnny about his career.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
Set in Palm Springs, California, and seen on Broadway in 2011, the play probes a rich, powerful, troubled and Reagan-esque West Coast political family and makes much of the metaphor of the arid, infertile desert.

— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of probes

Noun

But a judge has now paused construction across the region, giving a major boost to landowners who have sought to impede the wall by refusing to cooperate with government surveyors, protesting at county meetings and gearing up for court battles.

— Rebecca Santana, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Though their eligibility battles remain unsettled, both players took part in Thursday’s 45-minute open practice at Allen Fieldhouse as full-fledged members of KU’s 2026-27 team.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2026