tussle
Americanverb (used without object)
noun
-
a rough physical contest or struggle; scuffle.
-
any vigorous or determined struggle, conflict, etc..
I had quite a tussle with that chemistry exam.
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has tussledperfect 3rd person singular
-
have tussledperfect
-
are tusslingprogressive
-
has been tusslingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
is tusslingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
have been tusslingperfect progressive
-
am tusslingprogressive 1st person singular
-
tusslessingular 3rd person
-
tusslingparticiple
Past
-
had tussledperfect
-
was tusslingprogressive singular
-
had been tusslingperfect progressive
-
were tusslingprogressive plural
-
tussledsimple
-
tussledparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of tussle
1425–75; late Middle English (north and Scots ) tusillen, derivative ( see -le) of tusen to touse
Explanation
A tussle is a rowdy fight. If the rambunctious kids you're babysitting get into a tussle, you may have to separate them for a while and calm them down. Though a tussle is often a physical fight, it's rarely a serious one. Two wrestling dogs, a couple of scuffling teenagers — these are examples of tussles. The word tussle is Scottish, a variant of touselen, which is related to tousle, or "dishevel or muss," which you might do to a little kid's hair. The root of both is the Old English tousen, "handle or push about roughly."
Vocabulary lists containing tussle
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The other piece of this is that for a while, there was this tussle between lower courts and the Supreme Court.
From Slate • Jun. 1, 2026
While he was able to relax backstage before the final, defending champion Humphries and 2021 winner Jonny Clayton were involved in a titanic tussle of their own in the second semi-final.
From BBC • May 28, 2026
That became the center of a legal tussle after the city sued for its restoration and some panels have been restored, pending a court decision.
From Barron's • May 17, 2026
The tussle over the new rules has loomed over UBS’s Swiss identity and dragged on the bank’s share price.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026
I went to dinner that night all set for a tussle.
From "Ida B" by Katherine Hannigan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
