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as in clash
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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as in to prospect
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skirmish
CNN Money, 27 Dec. 2025
Shelton immediately shoved Hall, which started a skirmish between the teams.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 20 Dec. 2025
This has been interpreted as a rapprochement between China and India after decades of border skirmishes and maritime friction.
—Hyeran Jo, The Conversation, 18 Dec. 2025
The two got into multiple skirmishes as the intensity was turned up a notch.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skirmish
Noun
For more than a century, Thailand and Cambodia have contested sovereignty at various undemarcated points along their 817-kilometer (508-mile) land border – a dispute that has occasionally exploded into skirmishes and fighting.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for skirmish
Noun
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The tense encounters are happening at places like Target, Walmart and other private businesses.—
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The December incident is one in a series of violent encounters involving federal officers since Trump ramped up immigration enforcement during his second term.—
Noun
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The clashes have since descended into an all-out civil war, characterized by ethnic violence, attacks on civilians and atrocities committed by all sides, according to humanitarian groups and foreign governments.—
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Iranian state television aired images of clashes and fires, while the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that several police officers were killed overnight, underscoring the increasingly violent nature of the confrontations.—
Verb
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As a ballplayer, Kent was as irascible as Bonds; the two alphas reportedly brawled behind clubhouse doors, and famously clashed in the dugout during a 2002 game, when Bonds lunged for Kent’s throat and pushed him against the wall.—
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The cabinets inhaled quarters as four players teamed up to brawl their way to save Maggie Simpson or battle Shredder across New York.—
Verb
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Indiana prospects with the most to gain 5.—
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Dombrowski mentioned Otto Kemp, Johan Rojas and prospect Gabriel Rincones as backup outfield candidates.—
Noun
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This was not a rare occurrence at the university, where the presence of many students depended on the outcome of factional battles in their countries of origin.—
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In fact, filming the entire episode was quite the experience as the actress spent a lot of time arguing with herself as Maddie and Sara engaged in a battle of wills for control over the call center.—
Verb
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Minnesota prosecutors launched an online portal for residents to submit evidence related to the shooting in Minneapolis, vowing to probe the incident.—
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The treasury secretary is probing whether any of the money was somehow funneled outside the country.—
Noun
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Davisboro, Georgia Police Chief Leondus Dixon told CBS News a fight broke out among inmates during visitation hours at Washington State Prison in Davisboro.—
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Sheffey is jumping in the fight.—
Verb
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Next, the team plans to explore more complex designs.—
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This guide explores various methods to eliminate soap scum and offers preventive measures to stop its return.—
Cite this Entry
“Skirmish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skirmish. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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