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
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
tusslesimple
-
tusslessimple
-
have tussledperfect
-
has tussledperfect
-
am tusslingprogressive
-
are tusslingprogressive
-
is tusslingprogressive
-
have been tusslingperfect progressive
-
has been tusslingperfect progressive
Past
-
tussledsimple
-
had tussledperfect
-
was tusslingprogressive
-
were tusslingprogressive
-
had been tusslingperfect progressive
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
Freak the Mighty
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Hoot
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Beowulf: A New Telling
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
In light of the legal tussle with California, some have encouraged David Ellison to ditch Paramount’s Hollywood headquarters in favor of Tennessee.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
Nvidia – which last October became the first publicly-traded firm to be valued at $5tn – has long been at the centre of a tussle between the US and China over trade and national security.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
The cash payment looks set to cap an extraordinary Wall Street tussle that saw a company single out one of its own shareholders over its trading activity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026
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
I went to dinner that night all set for a tussle.
From "Ida B" by Katherine Hannigan
Before Robby and Al-Hashimi engage in any real ideological tussles, though, she commits the cardinal sin of suggesting they change the trauma center’s nickname to something else.
From Salon ● Jan. 8, 2026
The former Liverpool boss had many memorable tussles with Guardiola and the City boss has said the German is the one who has pushed him the most in this job.
From BBC ● Dec. 23, 2025
High on the to-do list will be ensuring the economy is ready for another round of tussles with the U.S., as signaled by the emphasis Chinese leaders have placed on reducing reliance on foreign technology.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 9, 2025
Long, gliding tracking shots with sophisticated camera and character blocking give way to hectic handheld movements as Terry scraps and tussles with his foes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2024
When I was young these tussles usually ended with Mother screaming over a broken lamp or vase, but as I got older there were fewer things left to break.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
For months, Vahidi, an enigmatic commander whose predecessor was killed on the first day of the war, has tussled with more public-facing, political figures in the Iranian leadership.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 13, 2026
Zwane tussled with Roberto Alvarado, with the Mexican going to ground holding his head.
From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026
In 2025, the US president went as far as visiting the Fed's under-renovation headquarters, where he verbally tussled with Powell as the two toured the site.
From Barron's ● Mar. 30, 2026
The car maker has previously tussled with California workplace safety regulators over conditions at the Fremont plant.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 11, 2025
An idle wind tussled the leaves in the trees and wafted a patch of smoke like a low cloud toward me.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
While tussling for the ball, he stepped directly on an opponent’s ankle and received a straight red card, which will keep him out of the next game.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
His attentiveness will be closely watched in the Maduro case, as tussling between the defense and prosecution has already threatened to draw out proceedings.
From Barron's ● Mar. 24, 2026
But he proves a skilled physical comic, tussling with his boots or recoiling from a kick in the shins from Lucky.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2025
In “The Climb,” there is a moment where Covino and Marvin briefly wrestle, a ludicrous sight of two grown men tussling on the ground.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2025
I thinks all your tussling done bust one n’em scabs open.”
From "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis
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.
