tussle 1 of 2

noun

ˈtə-səl How to pronounce tussle (audio)
Definition of tusslenext
as in clash
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups a small tussle on the basketball court was quickly broken up

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tussle

2 of 2

verb

as in to wrestle
to seize and attempt to unbalance one another for the purpose of achieving physical mastery puppies tussling with one another, rolling over and over on the carpet

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 tussle
Noun
Curry truffle wins tussle as Ramen Rumble era comes to close, raising over $100K for Give Kids The World Village in 10-year run. — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026 In the 1997 film, the title character (Brendan Fraser) tussles with the beast before rescuing Ursula (Mann). — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026
Verb
Christian and Emmett, now 9 and 11, were home for summer break while her beloved white-and-tan corgis tussled nearby. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 30 July 2026 There’s nothing like it—the sun shining, a warm breeze tussling your hair, waves rushing onto the shore, and breathing in the fresh, salty air. — Susan B. Barnes, Southern Living, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for tussle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tussle
  1. clash
  2. wrestle
  3. skirmish
  4. fight
  5. battle
  6. scuffle
  7. struggle
Noun
  • Assertive Mars clashes with your ruler Saturn, highlighting tension around your home, family, or the amount of emotional labor each person carries.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The clash between Ossoff and Piker comes as members of the Jewish community in Atlanta have criticized the Jewish Democrat, largely over his votes to block certain arms sales to Israel.
    — Joseph Strauss, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of clash
Verb
  • But the Young Bucks have been a dominant force in tag team wrestling for years.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Hinduism itself has long wrestled with the question of how many gods there are, and different answers have been proposed throughout its history, but none of those answers necessarily invalidates the others.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of wrestle
Noun
  • There was a brief skirmish in the end zone after Howell's 2-point conversion run.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Its outcome will be a major milestone in the decades-long political skirmishes over CEQA.
    — Dan Walters, Oc Register, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of skirmish
Verb
  • Their arrival is also welcome for many locals, battered by the economic impact of the Iran war their American visitors were fighting.
    — Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026
  • When ships are fighting in narrow waterways under heavy surveillance, visibility quickly becomes a deadly liability.
    — HOLMES LIAO, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of fight
Noun
  • The only intrigue at offensive line was the backup center battle between Hudson and Patrick.
    — Dan Duggan, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Naturally, with three more Salt Lake City wives at the Alter Ego Party, Gizelle is ready to further investigate why Lisa is in a battle with her whole cast.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of battle
Noun
  • Both father and son were wounded in the scuffle, with the younger man being stabbed in the head, lower back and right shoulder, while his dad was stabbed in his knee and slashed on his stomach, cops said.
    — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 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
Definition of scuffle
Noun
  • While Craig will get most of the attention, TCU’s revamped offensive line also had its struggles throughout the day.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Those struggles have become increasingly difficult for the Blue Jays to ignore as the season has progressed.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of struggle

Browse Nearby Words

tushes
tussle
tussled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tussle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tussle. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

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

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
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
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All