tussle
noun
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Definition of tussle
(Entry 1 of 2)
tussle
verb
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Definition of tussle (Entry 2 of 2)
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Synonyms for tussle
Synonyms: Noun
battle, clash, combat, conflict, contest, dustup, fight, fracas, fray, hassle, scrap, scrimmage, scrum, scuffle, skirmish, struggle
Synonyms: Verb
grapple, rassle, scuffle, wrestle
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Examples of tussle in a Sentence
Noun
The suspect was arrested after a tussle with a security guard. a tussle for control of the company The President is in for another tussle with Congress.Verb
The two basketball players tussled for the ball. The residents of the neighborhood tussled with city hall for years about the broken parking meters.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
This deeply entertaining match was an all-court tussle in which the longer rallies were often brimming with changes of direction and spin. — Christopher Clarey, New York Times, "2019 U.S. Open Highlights: Coco Gauff Wins the Night," 29 Aug. 2019 He was arrested in Johannesburg airport in December, and has been the subject of a legal and diplomatic tussle ever since. — The Economist, "A $2bn loan scandal sank Mozambique’s economy," 22 Aug. 2019 Naturally, builders like to record and share videos of these robotic tussles. — Andrew Norton, Ars Technica, "YouTube flags robot battle videos as “animal fights”," 22 Aug. 2019 The fight over the memo underscores a broader concern among U.S. intelligence agencies that political tussles could cause longtime allies to share fewer intelligence reports. — Washington Post, "Republicans vote to release memo alleging FBI missteps in surveillance of Trump campaign operative," 29 Jan. 2018 The absence of new worrisome turns in the U.S.-China trade tussle may have also helped keep investors in a buying mood. — Washington Post, "Asian shares mixed following broad rally for US stocks," 10 Aug. 2019 As the two men tussle, the attacker’s ball hat falls off. — Doug Phillips, sun-sentinel.com, "Store trashed, clerk attacked after ‘already intoxicated’ customers were refused booze," 9 Aug. 2019 The absence of new worrisome turns in the U.S.-China trade tussle may have also helped keep investors in a buying mood Thursday. — Los Angeles Times, "Stocks soar as investors push through anxiety about U.S.-China trade war," 8 Aug. 2019 While intraparty tussles are perennial in politics, this one comes against a unique backdrop: an unpopular, mendacious, norm-trampling President. — Molly Ball, Time, "What Do the Democrats Stand For? Inside a Fight Over America's Future," 25 July 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Politicians have tussled for years over the fate of the Tongass, a massive stretch of southeastern Alaska replete with old-growth spruce, hemlock and cedar, rivers running with salmon, and dramatic fjords. — Anchorage Daily News, "Trump pushes to allow new logging in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest," 27 Aug. 2019 Celebrities, moguls, investors and even royals have been tussling over the mountaintop parcel for nearly half a century — and for good reason. — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, "Once listed for $1 billion. Sold for $100,000. What just happened?," 20 Aug. 2019 The two countries have tussled over various proposals to resolve the dispute, with both sides claiming the other has ignored requests for negotiations. — New York Times, "As Japan and South Korea Feud Intensifies, U.S. Seems Unwilling, or Unable, to Help," 4 Aug. 2019 Johnson and Statham are fun to watch verbally tussle, though their chemistry shines best in group efforts, whether getting tortured by Brixton and his goons or teaming with Hattie. — Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, "Review: 'Hobbs and Shaw' sputters as Dwayne Johnson's 'Fast and Furious' spinoff," 1 Aug. 2019 Families have always tussled over food preferences, of course, but that struggle has been exacerbated by the proliferation of carb-curbing options, giving picky eaters near-endless ways to personalize their carb selection. — Anne Marie Chaker, WSJ, "Family Dinner Is Now a Battle Over Carbohydrates," 10 July 2019 Protesters and the junta were tussling over who would control the country’s transition to democracy. — The Economist, "Pro-democracy protesters are slaughtered in Khartoum," 6 June 2019 Beshear will be making his third consecutive stop at Fancy Farm and appears eager to tussle with the governor. — Phillip M. Bailey, The Courier-Journal, "Bevin and Beshear gear up for tug of war over Kentucky roots vs. Trump ties at Fancy Farm," 29 July 2019 Protesters and riot police tussled again Sunday night (July 7) after a march in the Kowloon area that was aimed at trying to explain Hong Kong’s cause to mainland Chinese tourists. — Ilaria Maria Sala, Quartz, "Hong Kong’s last major riots reshaped the city into the one we know today," 9 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tussle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for tussle
tussle
noun
English Language Learners Definition of tussle
(Entry 1 of 2)
tussle
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of tussle (Entry 2 of 2)
See the full definition for tussle in the English Language Learners Dictionary
tussle
noun
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Kids Definition of tussle
(Entry 1 of 2)