SCUFFLES Synonyms: 131 Similar and Opposite Words

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

truces

scuffles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of scuffle

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

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

Thousands of people marched through central Brussels in a protest that was largely peaceful, although some scuffles broke out with police, who used tear gas and water cannons in some instances. — Makini Brice, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026 During one of several scuffles, a 69-year-old bystander fell to the ground near a booth selling Republican merchandise, causing scrapes along her thigh, knee and forearm. — Hannah Ruhoff, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026 The preview also introduces viewers to the fictional state of Leonida, which is based on Florida, as Jason and Lucia drive around, hit the bars and get caught in scuffles, among other adventures. — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scuffles

Noun

This leads to even more behind-the-scenes skirmishes laced with character-centric comedy, as opposing factions align.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Ties between the two countries remain strained over their long-running Himalayan border dispute, which erupted into a deadly skirmishes in 2020 that saw soldiers from both sides use rocks and iron rods in brutal hand-to-hand combat.

— Helen Regan, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of skirmishes

Verb

Each also wrestles with the devastated idealism of our times.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
Tallinn’s Critics’ Picks strand spotlights films with a clear artistic point of view and a fresh take on storytelling, including work that wrestles with genre, cinema’s past and the social issues of the moment.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of wrestles

Noun

Likewise, the student protests over the weekend expanded from education to other grievances — and featured dramatic scenes of looting and clashes with police.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
The unrest, fueled by anger over living costs and poor school conditions, included arson, clashes with police and looting; officials say curfews will continue where needed.

— Tom Nouvian, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of clashes

Verb

His creator, an unnamed basket-weaver (Peter Dinklage), braided him as a mate for a lonely virgin, a fisherwoman (Olivia Colman) who stomps around her rustic village smelling like sushi and tossing her head back in an Eliza Doolittle guffaw.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
At one point Evans stomps in to a Fielder secondary interview to try to stop it.

— Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of stomps

Verb

Thomas superspeeds Katerina to safety and Vision fights Butcherbird, but Butcherbird is faster and stronger.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
Water shortages do not often get attention from state lawmakers, and fights over resources can pit rural landowners against cities.

— Lexi Salazar, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of fights

Noun

Known for risque stand-up comedy routines and battles with drugs and alcohol, Brand rose to prominence in the early 2000s, hosting television programs and his own BBC radio show.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
Use it for dry skin, dry lips, dry cuticles, scars from cabaret battles.

— Lindy Segal, Glamour, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of battles

Verb

Even as Heath stumbles his way through the lyrics, the audience respectfully claps along to the beat.

— Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
Lizard Music follows a boy (Theo Clark Leber) left to his own devices who stumbles upon a secret late-night broadcast of lizards playing otherworldly music, and a hidden door to the extraordinary swings open.

— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of stumbles

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scuffled

scuffles

scuffling

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Style

“Scuffles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scuffles. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of scuffles

noun

verb

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