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

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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

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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

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

Verb

As Ukraine fights a larger, richer and better-equipped enemy, Kyiv sees the strikes on Russian oil refineries as one of its few instruments to reduce Moscow’s ability to fight.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
Gemma, still recovering from her injury, fights her impulses and stays on the sideline.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of fights

Noun

Policy Policy Your guide to the Supreme Court, federal courts, judicial nominations, and the legal battles shaping American policy.

— Washington Examiner, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2026
That changed after the 2020 presidential election, when secretaries of state in places such as Arizona, Georgia and Michigan were thrust into battles over election results, certification and false claims of widespread fraud.

— Thom Reilly, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of battles

Verb

The film will follow a boy (Leber), left to his own devices, who stumbles upon a secret late-night broadcast of lizards playing otherworldly music.

— Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
While going through Verity’s files, Lowen stumbles on her memoir, an alleged confession.

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of stumbles

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scuffled

scuffles

scuffling

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“Scuffles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scuffles. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of scuffles

noun

verb

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