1
: a physical contest or struggle : scuffle
2
: an intense argument, controversy, or struggle
Synonyms
Examples of tussle in a Sentence
Noun
The suspect was arrested after a tussle with a security guard.
a tussle for control of the company
The President is in for another tussle with Congress.
Verb
Two players tussled for the ball.
The residents of the neighborhood tussled with city hall for years about the broken parking meters.
Recent Examples on the Web
Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 14 Jan. 2025
That will happen regardless of whether the Commanders move past their NFC wild card tussle with the Buccaneers or not.
—Larry Holder, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
At the final buzzer, Justin Brazeau, Nikita Zadorov and Brandon Carlo tussled with some of their Tampa Bay counterparts.
—Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for tussle 
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Noun
Smith outlined legal tussles over executive privilege, the Supreme Court’s July ruling on presidential immunity, and Trump’s scare tactics.
—Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 14 Jan. 2025
That will happen regardless of whether the Commanders move past their NFC wild card tussle with the Buccaneers or not.
—Larry Holder, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
The board gained five new members in the November election, a turnover expected to bring a more moderate tone to a board that for years was seen as ultra-liberal and often tussled with Breed — also a moderate — over tough-on-crime policy proposals.
—Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
At the final buzzer, Justin Brazeau, Nikita Zadorov and Brandon Carlo tussled with some of their Tampa Bay counterparts.
—Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for tussle
Dictionary Entries Near tussle
Cite this Entry
“Tussle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tussle. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tussle
2 of 2 noun1
: a physical contest or struggle
2
: a rough argument or a struggle against difficult odds
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