1
2
as in clashes
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
throughout the week of the convention, police engaged in skirmishes with some of the demonstrators
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of skirmishes
Adam Thompson, CBS News, 18 May 2026
Here are some photos from the second of three skirmishes in this always entertaining Show Me State clash.
—Jeff Rosen, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2026
The game was delayed with just under six minutes on the clock after several skirmishes broke out, leading to the ejections of Seals captain Wes Berg and Toronto’s Elijah Gash.
—Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2026
The early skirmishes certainly appeared that way.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
The skirmishes are a preview for more campaigns later this year, when at least a half-dozen states will hold elections for utility regulators.
—ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026
The most recent of many legal skirmishes to come to the public’s attention involves Paris Jackson, Michael Jackson’s daughter.
—Naomi Cahn, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2026
And the Pakistani military has been engaged in cross-border skirmishes with the Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan for months.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
With billions of dollars at stake, the conflicts manifest in sharp skirmishes in the Legislature, in courts and in the ballot measure arena.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
Tempers flared between the teams, leading to a couple of skirmishes.
—Adam Thompson, CBS News, 18 May 2026
Here are some photos from the second of three skirmishes in this always entertaining Show Me State clash.
—Jeff Rosen, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2026
The game was delayed with just under six minutes on the clock after several skirmishes broke out, leading to the ejections of Seals captain Wes Berg and Toronto’s Elijah Gash.
—Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2026
The early skirmishes certainly appeared that way.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
The skirmishes are a preview for more campaigns later this year, when at least a half-dozen states will hold elections for utility regulators.
—ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026
The most recent of many legal skirmishes to come to the public’s attention involves Paris Jackson, Michael Jackson’s daughter.
—Naomi Cahn, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2026
And the Pakistani military has been engaged in cross-border skirmishes with the Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan for months.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
With billions of dollars at stake, the conflicts manifest in sharp skirmishes in the Legislature, in courts and in the ballot measure arena.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skirmishes
Noun
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One major notable difference between the two encounters, however, was Taiwan, which was a cornerstone of one meeting and completely absent from the other.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
20 May 2026
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Timing is also key to side-stepping any possible encounters with crowds.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Noun
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The protest turned violent with clashes breaking out between pro-Palestinian supporters, who were protesting an event hosted by the synagogue to promote land for sale in Israel, and pro-Israel counterprotesters.—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
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Widespread protests followed, along with some clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement and the deployment of the National Guard.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
18 May 2026
Verb
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As the man brawls with his in-laws, the boy is caught between two worlds, of male rage and female subjection.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Each rank is colored by how that expert compares to the consensus — prospects an analyst liked more than average are more green, and rankings lower than consensus are more orange.—
Austin Mock,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The Dolphins doubled down on Red Raiders prospects after, earlier Friday, choosing Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez with their lone second-round pick.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Last year's event was marred by several high-profile incidents, including a party boat shooting in Little River and multiple fights that sent several people to the hospital, according to ABC affiliate station WCIV in Charleston, South Carolina.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
24 May 2026
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Usually when an actor in a major role skedaddles a series in mid-stream — because of firings, feuds, contract fights, health crises or creative flameouts — the show finds a way to go on.—
Benjamin Svetkey,
HollywoodReporter,
23 May 2026
Verb
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The cardboard boxes the food is packaged in are also being resold online, with one user selling them for $15 each.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
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Here’s how Bloodhounds Season 2 boxes its way to a brutal conclusion.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The new wording would require a challenger to put forward evidence sufficient to support a finding of fabrication before the court probes further.—
Lars Daniel,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2026
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Further evidence gathered by both the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, a satellite that probes Mars’s surface for clues to its current and past geology, and NASA’s Perseverance rover suggests the planet also has material made up of crystals of hydrated silica—a mineral better known on Earth as opal.—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
12 May 2026
Noun
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But if both of those battles end up as washes, the Knicks could pull away in this series because their work on the glass earns them extra shots.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
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Trustees increasingly want leaders capable of navigating not only fundraising and research growth, but also the political battles reshaping higher education.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skirmishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skirmishes. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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