tussle

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A short, rough struggle or scuffle, either physical or over some small matter.

   Grammar: Often a tussle over something: a tussle over the remote.

   Patterns

   • a tussle over something
   • a tussle with someone

   The brothers had a tussle over the last slice of pizza.

   A brief tussle broke out when the gates opened.

   There was a legal tussle over the will.

2. 2verbintransitive

   To struggle roughly or compete with someone over something, usually for a short time.

   Grammar: Followed by with or over: tussle with a rival.

   Patterns

   • tussle with someone
   • tussle over something

   Two puppies tussled over a rope toy.

   The senators tussled over the budget for weeks.

   She tussled with the stubborn lid.

Word forms

Common combinations

tussle over

The kids tussled over the ball.

tussle with

He tussled with a thief in the alley.

brief tussle

A brief tussle followed.

legal tussle

A legal tussle delayed the project.

tussle for control

Two factions tussled for control of the club.

Synonyms and how they differ

scuffle

Scuffle is nearly the same but suggests confused, shuffling fighting among several people.

scrap

Scrap is informal and British, often used for a minor fight.

wrestle

Wrestle sounds more physical and sustained, as if gripping and grappling.

squabble

Squabble is a noisy argument over trivial matters and does not involve physical contact.

Opposites

Word family

tussling noun

the act of scuffling

tussler noun

rare word for one who scuffles

tousle verb

to mess up, especially hair; related in origin

Commonly confused: tussle or tussock? tussle or tousle?

Practice

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