1
2
as in clashes
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skirmishes
Josh Gross, Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
The skirmishes are a preview for more campaigns later this year, when at least a half-dozen states will hold elections for utility regulators.
—ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026
The most recent of many legal skirmishes to come to the public’s attention involves Paris Jackson, Michael Jackson’s daughter.
—Naomi Cahn, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2026
And the Pakistani military has been engaged in cross-border skirmishes with the Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan for months.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
With billions of dollars at stake, the conflicts manifest in sharp skirmishes in the Legislature, in courts and in the ballot measure arena.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
In a dangerous escalation from cross-border skirmishes, Pakistan launched air strikes at the end of February, targeting major cities including Kabul.
—Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 24 Mar. 2026
So far, most of the state-level legal skirmishes centered on Kalshi’s event contracts have involved cease-and-desist letters, seeking preliminary injunctions, and civil enforcement.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
The war began after several rounds of airstrikes and cross-border skirmishes, stemming from Pakistani claims that the Afghan government was harboring terrorists who used the country as a base to launch attacks against Pakistan.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 17 Mar. 2026
Noun
The early skirmishes certainly appeared that way.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
The skirmishes are a preview for more campaigns later this year, when at least a half-dozen states will hold elections for utility regulators.
—ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026
The most recent of many legal skirmishes to come to the public’s attention involves Paris Jackson, Michael Jackson’s daughter.
—Naomi Cahn, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2026
And the Pakistani military has been engaged in cross-border skirmishes with the Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan for months.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
With billions of dollars at stake, the conflicts manifest in sharp skirmishes in the Legislature, in courts and in the ballot measure arena.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
In a dangerous escalation from cross-border skirmishes, Pakistan launched air strikes at the end of February, targeting major cities including Kabul.
—Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 24 Mar. 2026
So far, most of the state-level legal skirmishes centered on Kalshi’s event contracts have involved cease-and-desist letters, seeking preliminary injunctions, and civil enforcement.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
The war began after several rounds of airstrikes and cross-border skirmishes, stemming from Pakistani claims that the Afghan government was harboring terrorists who used the country as a base to launch attacks against Pakistan.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skirmishes
Noun
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Attendees would have received copies to deepen the bonds created by the affair, not unlike how people today cherish photographs of their encounters with celebrities and politicians.—
Lori Waxman,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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But this truth is anathema in a culture where billionaires expect to live forever and encounters with disease are wars to be fought and won.—
Hannah Kerman,
STAT,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Transportation future While most Coloradans want properly maintained roads, Restore Our Roads clashes with voters’ broader wishes, said Matt Frommer, transportation and land use policy manager for the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, an environmental advocacy group.—
Bruce Finley,
Denver Post,
27 Apr. 2026
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Last year, clashes between farmers and herders in southwestern Chad left 42 people dead and several homes burned.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As the man brawls with his in-laws, the boy is caught between two worlds, of male rage and female subjection.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Dolphins doubled down on Red Raiders prospects after, earlier Friday, choosing Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez with their lone second-round pick.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
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Hawks prospects Anton Frondell and Sacha Boisvert are expected to debut on the team’s upcoming road trip, which starts at the New York Islanders on March 24.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Four interior cameras focused on student safety, including incidents such as bullying or fights.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
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Even if there were arguments and fights, there was still love between those arguments and fights.—
Rick Stroud,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
Verb
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The cardboard boxes the food is packaged in are also being resold online, with one user selling them for $15 each.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
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Nick Phillips, with Applied Digital, said the tax exemption ban effectively boxes out data centers from building in South Dakota.—
Makenzie Huber,
States Newsroom,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The senators' letter probes the potential political motivations of the investigation.—
Matt Peterson,Emily Wilkins,
CNBC,
24 Apr. 2026
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That tension created fertile ground for jokes, says the actor, who probes similar spaces in his Apple TV series, Shrinking.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That means the knock-down, drag-out government shutdown battles that have become a Washington ritual are, in effect, a fight over a little more than a quarter of the federal ledger.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
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Marr's legal battles with State Farm started in 1999, when Marr says the insurer denied a claim that a friend filed for tornado damage.—
Michael Copley,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skirmishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skirmishes. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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