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Synonyms

tussle

American  
[tuhs-uhl] / ˈtʌs əl /

verb (used without object)

tussled, tussling

  1. to struggle or fight roughly or vigorously; wrestle; scuffle.

noun

  1. a rough physical contest or struggle; scuffle.

  2. any vigorous or determined struggle, conflict, etc..

    I had quite a tussle with that chemistry exam.
tussle British  
/ ˈtʌsəl /

verb

  1. (intr) to fight or wrestle in a vigorous way; struggle

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a vigorous fight; scuffle; struggle

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of tussle

1425–75; late Middle English (north and Scots ) tusillen, derivative ( -le ) of tusen to touse

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 move set off a legal tussle that was only resolved in October this year - following a court ruling which said that the band had to stay with Ador until 2029.

From BBC

Unai Emery's men are just three points behind Arsenal and one adrift of Manchester City in a tight three-way title tussle.

From Barron's

Still, the tussle is an unexpected thorn in Nike’s efforts to capitalize on the World Cup being hosted in North America next year.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

Williams picked off jets in a tussle that lasted more than 30 minutes—an astonishing duration, given that dogfights tend to be measured in seconds.

From The Wall Street Journal

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.