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 Breaking work into small pieces and running it through scrums and sprints was how teams offset the sheer cost of human coding hours. — Tim Lee, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrums
  1. throngs
  2. skirmishes
  3. circuses
  4. swarms
  5. clashes
  6. messes
  7. hordes
  8. fights
Noun
  • Leo's visit to Paris came as a birthday present for Jean-Claude Farnabe, who turned 63 on Saturday and spent the morning securing a spot amid the throngs of people.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The cows made their way to the altar — with the handlers helping to guide them with hay — through throngs of people and a few mascots sitting in seats and lined up on the streets, who stopped by just to see the unique occasion.
    — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of throngs
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
Noun
  • These feats would later move to circuses but, despite its proud history, strongman only became an official sport in 1977 with the inaugural World’s Strongest Man.
    — Rob Tanner, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • By now, not even third-rate circuses would hire me, much less an outfit like Hep Spyder’s, the World’s Famous Bushwick Circus.
    — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of circuses
Noun
  • The astronauts were also on the lookout for swarms of lunar dust.
    — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Already that has included key battlefield support for Iran – and lessons of drone and missile swarms learned from Russia’s experience in Ukraine – in exchange for Russia’s use of Iran’s game-changing Shahed drones.
    — Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of swarms
Noun
  • However, more than a year later, clashes continue in eastern Congo, and experts say negotiations will become even more complicated with Kabila in a leadership position.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Main roads leading Yemen’s third-largest city have been closed amid rebel attacks, with regular clashes on the outskirts and overnight bombardment.
    — Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of clashes
Noun
  • Coffee spills, muddy shoes, pet mishaps, and everyday messes don’t have to turn into decorating disasters.
    — Ethan Stone October 9, Idaho Statesman, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Tackle stubborn messes effortlessly with the Roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Robot Vacuum and Mop.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of messes
Noun
  • More mature than the party hordes that roam this part of town, the vibe here is the casual elegance that blends drinking rum out of a pineapple while retaining your sophistication while doing it.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Their backing attracted hordes of counterrevolutionaries and Mubarak loyalists.
    — Abdelrahman ElGendy, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of hordes
Noun
  • The trailer also featured glimpses of steamy makeouts, ATV chases down the beach, fiery explosions, and good ol’ bar fights.
    — Isabella Albaig, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Director Christopher Nolan uses the premise to stage spectacular sequences where cars reverse down freeways at high speed, cause and effect goes topsy-turvy, and fights are just, well, weird.
    — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 10 Oct. 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 20 Oct. 2026.

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