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
Relevance
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
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Recent Examples of scrums
Despite that, Concepcion always embraced his time in media scrums, shook everyone's hand before and after and showed confidence while doing so.
—
Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026
There were no scrums, barely any big hits and absolute zero sense of disdain from one bench to the other.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
And while this particular standoff has been unusually drawn out, the sticking points wouldn’t be unfamiliar to anyone who’s participated in one of the hundreds of similar scrums that have taken place since the dawn of the cable bundle.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 14 Nov. 2025
The incident sparked multiple scrums across the ice.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 12 Nov. 2025
Capitol hallways have become an endless series of partisan scrums and press conferences where the two sides play the blame game, occasionally to each others’ faces on camera in impromptu scuffles.
—Steven T. Dennis, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026
There were no scrums, barely any big hits and absolute zero sense of disdain from one bench to the other.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
And while this particular standoff has been unusually drawn out, the sticking points wouldn’t be unfamiliar to anyone who’s participated in one of the hundreds of similar scrums that have taken place since the dawn of the cable bundle.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 14 Nov. 2025
The incident sparked multiple scrums across the ice.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 12 Nov. 2025
Capitol hallways have become an endless series of partisan scrums and press conferences where the two sides play the blame game, occasionally to each others’ faces on camera in impromptu scuffles.
—Steven T. Dennis, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrums
Noun
-
The 59-year-old grumbled that gladhanding throngs of supporters in dusty villages had left him prey to bugs and viruses.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
9 Feb. 2026
-
More than twenty‑five thousand people crowded into Shibe Park, including throngs of young people who made the gathering feel more like a festival than a political convention.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And while his 11 years with the Yankees were often marked with verbal skirmishes with George Steinbrenner, in 1982 the Boss showed his respect for Nettles’ baseball acumen and quiet clubhouse leadership to name him the first Yankee captain since Thurman Munson’s death in 1979.—
Bill Madden,
New York Daily News,
31 Jan. 2026
-
These were not skirmishes but full-scale conflicts, usually costing tens—sometimes hundreds—of thousands of lives.—
Robert Kagan,
The Atlantic,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Bodies were found throughout the building, some stacked on top of one another, with swarms of bugs and decomposition fluid covering the floors, investigators said.—
Jesse Bedayn,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Bodies were found throughout the building, some stacked on top of each other, with swarms of bugs and decomposition fluid covering the floors, investigators said.—
Maria Braganini,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Subsequent border clashes with Cambodia allowed Anutin to recast himself as a wartime leader after his popularity initially slipped because of floods and financial scandals.—
GRANT PECK,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Their goal with the video was to push back against the president’s domestic troop deployments, a trend his critics feared might lead to clashes with ordinary Americans or be used to interfere in upcoming elections.—
Missy Ryan,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Expect hordes of people on weekends during prime daytime hours, and likely a short to moderate wait around noon even on weekdays.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Each booth offered a brief refuge from the hordes moving steadily through the aisles.—
Tim Corlett,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The House Ethics Committee, which is comprised of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans and tries to stay away from political fights, typically handles allegations involving lawmakers and their family members.—
Stephen Groves,
Fortune,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Pavel Rodon, manager of Havana 1957, said there were fewer fights and better control last year, but the barricades in front of his restaurant also hurt business.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The idea of a 10% rate cap has all the seriousness of bread-and-circuses governance.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Coaches don’t like media circuses, but Jones can’t wean himself off the attention.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
However, in the meantime, those with flocks in their yards or at the commercial level are encouraged to take extra precautions to try and make sure their flocks cannot be contaminated.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
-
In fact, some flocks overwinter as far north as Canada.—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scrums.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrums. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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