Synonyms of tussle

tussle 1 of 2

noun

ˈtə-səl 

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

• clash
• skirmish
• battle
• fight
• struggle
• scuffle
• brawl
• fray
• dustup
• contest
• fracas
• confrontation
• conflict
• altercation
• duel
• scrimmage
• combat
• scrum
• quarrel
• scrap
• mêlée
• dispute
• spat
• rough-and-tumble
• fistfight
• squabble
• fisticuffs
• hassle
• blows
• melee
• slugfest
• tangle
• pitched battle
• punch-up
• mix-up
• ruckus
• battle royal
• donnybrook
• face-off
• controversy
• joust
• affray
• wrangle
• catfight
• free-for-all
• tiff
• row
• falling-out
• ruction
• contretemps
• broil
• punch-out
• misunderstanding
• disagreement
• grapple
• cross fire
• argument
• kickup
• argy-bargy
• handgrips
• argle-bargle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• truce

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

• wrestle
• fight
• brawl
• scuffle
• grapple
• battle
• rassle
• duel
• contend
• skirmish
• combat
• war (against)
• hit
• punch
• strike
• clash (with)
• box
• slug
• spar
• buffet
• batter
• bash
• beat

Examples of tussle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The titanic five-game tussle between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians in the American League playoffs last week should remain a hot rivalry for many years if 2024 minor-league results mean anything. —Chuck Murr, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024

Auburn enters Saturday's tussle having lost its first two SEC matchups of the season. —Ross Terrell, Axios, 4 Oct. 2024

Verb

But rather than a rematch between two candidates who had tussled for more than four years, this is now an eight-week sprint between two people who've never met in-person. —Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 9 Sep. 2024

Migrant families waiting hours for gym doors to open had reported line-cutters, tussling in many tongues. —Caroline Aiken Koster, New York Daily News, 28 Mar. 2024