scuffles 1 of 2

noun

plural of scuffle
as in skirmishes
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups several chairs were knocked over in the scuffle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

scuffles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of scuffle
1
as in shuffles
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 wrestles
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 scuffles
Noun
New Orleans had no scuffles or disciplinary issues Thursday during another joint practice with the Rams at Los Angeles' training complex in Woodland Hills. — ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026 Throughout his scuffles, however, Boone felt Grisham had gotten more aggressive inside the strike zone. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026 One incident on the latest episode led to a hilarious and effective solution to training camp scuffles. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2026 There's videos of scuffles, marmots walking in snow, maintaining their burrow and just sitting there in all their glorious cuteness. — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026 Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said scuffles like that are part of training camp. — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026 Well, Foerster is also the 49ers’ offensive line czar and no scuffles broke out in one-on-one drills with defensive linemen. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 31 July 2026 There were ugly scenes after the final whistle as scuffles broke out between Argentina and Spain players. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 19 July 2026 Lalas’ apparent delight in courting the enmity of the American viewing public also extends to his co-hosts—so much so that his early verbal scuffles with Zlatan Ibrahimović have gone more viral than whooping cough. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 24 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scuffles
  1. skirmishes
  2. shuffles
  3. wrestles
  4. clashes
  5. stomps
  6. fights
  7. battles
  8. stumbles
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
Verb
  • In the clip, Dawkins shuffles out onto the field with no shirt, a pair of Crocs and a clear plastic bag ready to get the ol' inside-out treatment.
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • An exhibition game also shuffles the storylines — some players emerge, others might fade.
    — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of shuffles
Verb
  • Brave Irene wrestles the dress and rides the box downhill like a sled in order to reach the duchess, who is anxiously waiting for her gown.
    — Liz Rosenberg, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Season 1 reportedly will be centered around DC bad guy Gorilla Grodd, who often wrestles The Flash.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 8 July 2026
Definition of wrestles
Noun
  • In the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait — where clashes have intensified in recent weeks — data shows at least 45 vessels crossed, including eight tankers and eight cargo ships going to the Gulf of Aden.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The 2026 schedule will be challenging as well with two September clashes with conference contender SMU and a trip to Tuscaloosa to face revenge-minded Alabama.
    — Andre C. Fernandez, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of clashes
Verb
  • If anything, the dichotomy between the pop star who prances around Versailles in a sheer nightie and the pop star who stomps onstage in knee-high combat boots feels completely authentic and intentional.
    — Chelsey Sanchez, CNN Money, 25 June 2026
  • Suddenly, the trees part and a Tyrannosaurus rex stomps into view.
    — RJ Mackenzie, Popular Science, 11 June 2026
Definition of stomps
Verb
  • Meta has swooned as the company fights litigation alleging that the firm seeded addictive behavior in children.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
  • With only three ingredients—water, sodium chloride, and hypochlorous acid—the on-the-go spritzer soothes skin and fights bacteria.
    — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of fights
Noun
  • Tanger centers are places where family and friends can gather, our green spaces play host to everything from yoga classes to food truck rallies to high school battles of the bands.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Once in Korea, O’Hara worked with the Korean stunt team to refine the choreography even further, making battles out of the small-scale struggle of opening a door, of how characters could make it to the glass break outside.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of battles
Verb
  • Shortly after, a young man stumbles towards Pat from the direction of the pub, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.
    — Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Mitchell’s own imitation of Spielbergian life, despite its meticulous re-creation (and gleeful destruction) of eighties suburbia, stumbles into an uncanny valley between sincerity and cynicism, between unintentional comedy and deliberate homage.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of stumbles

Browse Nearby Words

scuffled
scuffles
scuffling
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scuffles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scuffles. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on scuffles

Nglish: Translation of scuffles for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of august

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All