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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of tussle
Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 14 Mar. 2026
The two companies had a legal tussle in January shortly after the sale closed, with Prospect accusing NOR of owing it millions in overdue payments, including not paying medical supply vendors and other debts, according to CT Insider.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
Bethy Squires, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2026
The race could revive a pandemic-era rivalry between Kiley and Pan, who tussled over vaccine and public health rules while serving in the state Legislature.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tussle
Noun
During one of the shootings, Sheriff Shittu, a 30-year-old aspiring fashion designer, was fatally shot in the head after a tussle with a drunk patron who had groped his girlfriend earlier in the night.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 14 Mar. 2026
The two companies had a legal tussle in January shortly after the sale closed, with Prospect accusing NOR of owing it millions in overdue payments, including not paying medical supply vendors and other debts, according to CT Insider.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
So that tussle is still tussling.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2026
The race could revive a pandemic-era rivalry between Kiley and Pan, who tussled over vaccine and public health rules while serving in the state Legislature.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tussle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tussle
Noun
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The deepening crisis has also sparked protests and clashes across the island.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2026
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From there, the play builds into a seismic clash between the two, each arguing for their place, with Curator caught in the middle.—
Michelle F. Solomon,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Wild video captured the moment a young fisherman plunged into pounding Southern California surf to wrestle a thrashing shark and free it from his fishing line.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2026
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The two major parties fight for control like petulant children wrestling over a television remote.—
Stu Strumwasser,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Verb
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They get captured by Hungarian gangsters and have to fight (and kill) their way out of an inn run by a shady former dance prodigy (Uma Thurman).—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
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Nissie Cadette took the mic and spoke about what an influence Metayer had been on her life, fighting through tears at every word.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Three months into faith leaders’ legal battle, they were allowed back inside the facility in February for Ash Wednesday after a court order granted limited access.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
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In the midst of a restitution battle, records show that Kilpatrick is at risk of losing a home in Novi over more than $50,000 in unpaid property taxes.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The aerial scuffles are charming.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Mar. 2026
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Walker was shot and killed by Officer Alexander Clifford when a scuffle led to a policeman falling backward, at which point Walker raised a knife, Prescott wrote in his preliminary report.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Just two weeks ago, Gary Woodland decided ot shared his struggles with post traumatic stress disorder, brought on after a September 2023 surgery, which involved a baseball-sized hole cut from the side of his head, to remove a brain lesion.—
Andrew McCarty,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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And the struggles up front affected what was already troublesome quarterback play after Conner Harrell’s knee injury in Week 4.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tussle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tussle. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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