scrums

noun

plural of scrum
1
as in throngs
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 skirmishes
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 madhouses
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 scrums Erasmus emptied his bench in the third quarter and the fresh power showed in the increasingly one-sided scrums. — ABC News, 8 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 Players participated in practice interviews, informal scrums and official press conferences throughout the weekend. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026 That increase, unlike in the Premier League in its 2025-26 season, is not primarily due to inswinging corners causing rugby-style scrums in the six-yard box. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 July 2026 That didn’t seem to dent the energy, with spontaneous Argentinian futbol songs breaking out among scrums of fans. — Matias Ocner, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026 The media scrums around each player reflected their importance, with constant jostling for the right positioning of microphones and cameras. — Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 22 June 2026 Rebounding was a recurring problem, leading to chaotic scrums in front of the net. — Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026 No awkward scrums with the media grilling him about a slump Saturday morning ahead of Game 3 of this second-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series against the Minnesota Wild at Grand Casino Arena. — Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 9 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrums
  1. throngs
  2. skirmishes
  3. circuses
  4. swarms
  5. clashes
  6. messes
  7. hordes
  8. fights
Noun
  • 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
  • These friends describe a large party on Horn Island, which is a favorite gathering spot in the summer, with throngs of people spread out in the sun and surf and around numerous boats, some of them drinking in water known to be deep and dangerous.
    — Adam Carlson, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
Definition of throngs
Noun
  • The controversy is at once new and familiar, reflecting both the dramatic changes that the proliferation of AI has wrought on book publishing and echoing other skirmishes this year in which authors have been accused of using AI.
    — Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of skirmishes
Noun
  • The best World Cup base camps have tended to be quiet ones, with squads that hole up in small towns and bond away from the spotlight routinely outlasting teams stationed amid bigger circuses.
    — Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • Indeed, some of our oligarchs actually own the circuses.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 21 June 2026
Definition of circuses
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
  • Ultimately, swarms of AI could combine in rather disconcerting and dangerous ways.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of swarms
Noun
  • After months of sharp clashes, the winners of Tuesday’s primaries are now pivoting for another round of battles against new challengers in the November election.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Ultimately, the immediate need for affordable, abundant solar capacity clashes with the goal of a self-sufficient supply chain, making price the primary driver for now.
    — Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of clashes
Noun
  • Steam cleaning works best for fresh spills and light messes, making cleanup easier.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Typically, PAs are putting in 60-hour workweeks, and their duties can include everything from running errands to cleaning up messes to managing the general public when filming takes place in a location and impedes foot or car traffic.
    — Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of messes
Noun
  • The Hitlerite hordes are murdering and outraging the peaceful inhabitants of our country, having no mercy on women, children or old people.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Just weeks ago, Colombian-Mexican restaurant Paisa MX welcomed hordes of World Cup spectators.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of hordes
Noun
  • Shields appears to be positioning herself for more competitive fights against women in smaller weight classes.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Healthcare could emerge as one of the defining policy fights in Georgia's race for governor, according to a new statewide poll that found concerns over cost, access and quality cut across political lines.
    — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of fights

Browse Nearby Words

scrumptious
scrums
scrunch
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Cite this Entry

“Scrums.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrums. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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