scrum

noun

ˈskrəm How to pronounce scrum (audio)
Definition of scrumnext
1
as in throng
a great number of persons or creatures massed together I had to fight my way through the scrum of holiday shoppers at the mall

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in skirmish
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups when the server spilled a drink on a customer, they got into a bit of a scrum before being separated

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in bedlam
British a place of uproar or confusion London's tube is quite a scrum during rush hour

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 scrum Rhaena flees the four-way dragon scrum on foot only to be dragged back by her uncle. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026 Guardians manager Stephen Vogt was seen walking out of the dugout with pace to clearly say something to the other side, and that sparked the scrum near the dish. — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026 While viral videos poke fun, territorial scrums over scarce Costco spots can turn ugly, and sometimes violent. — Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 30 July 2026 Hours later, across the globe, after the Dodgers dispatched the San Diego Padres in a season-opening win – and after Mizuhara served as Ohtani’s interpreter in a hurried and rushed postgame media scrum – Hiltzik called ESPN again. — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for scrum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrum
  1. throng
  2. skirmish
  3. bedlam
  4. crowd
  5. clash
  6. madhouse
  7. swarm
  8. battle
Noun
  • The defendant and his legal team declined to speak with a throng of reporters outside the courthouse.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Right in the middle of cheering, reveling masses was MARTA — a connective system of veins that efficiently moved the happy throngs.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of throng
Noun
  • Frantic skirmishes between the family and the beast take place as the house floods, and eventually the invading creature is tangled up in a trap.
    — William Earl, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
  • On Thursday, linebacker Jack Cochrane also was involved in a skirmish with running back Jaydn Ott during a special teams drill.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of skirmish
Noun
  • Against this bedlam, Rhaenyra tries to fashion herself a real queen.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 July 2026
  • The scene around me was one of utter bedlam, with stadium officials even joining in the celebrations.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 25 June 2026
Definition of bedlam
Noun
  • And the jeers that White received from the home crowd at the end of pregame introductions might have spurred energy from the Fever players before and after the tilt.
    — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The second attempt in March 2021 succeeded, with images showing crowds that had gathered to witness the launch.
    — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of crowd
Noun
  • Its vibrant colors and familiar texture became fashion material, incorporated into the fishnets, color clashes and styling experiments surrounding her tour with Skillibeng.
    — Desjah Altvater, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Be sure to draw appropriate boundaries while Venus and Neptune clash.
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of clash
Noun
  • Whereas this evening in the Spanish Gothic madhouse of the United Theater, most every song from Melanie’s Hadean pageant is received with near word-perfect communalism.
    — Matt Thompson, SPIN, 13 July 2026
  • Headphones are often my saving grace in this madhouse.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 17 Apr. 2026
Definition of madhouse
Noun
  • As these dense swarms drift into coastal waters, intake pumps pull them directly into the cooling machinery.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
  • There is a swarm of people gathered in Jordan Roth’s studio for a couture fitting.
    — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of swarm
Noun
  • Four months later, my mom began a private battle against death when she was diagnosed with polio.
    — Dr. Marianne Parshley, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Following a slew of casualties (including James Norton’s Ormund Hightower) during a massive battle between the Blacks and the Greens at Tumbleton, Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban) jumps to her death off screen in King’s Landing.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of battle

Browse Nearby Words

scruffy
scrum
scrumptious
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Cite this Entry

“Scrum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrum. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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