scuffled
Grappled without finesse
Scuffled is the past tense of scuffle, meaning to engage in a brief, confused physical struggle: The two men scuffled before security intervened.
A scuffle is typically disorderly rather than systematic—more shoving and grappling than actual fighting.
Scuffle can also mean to shuffle or move with dragging feet: He scuffled across the floor in his slippers.
Disorderly group fight
- fisticuffsHand-to-hand combat
- meleeDisordered group skirmish
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
- altercationHeated verbal dispute
fracas · ruckus · clash · kerfuffle · rumble · donnybrook · affray · scrap
brawl
Disorderly group fight
- fisticuffsHand-to-hand combat
- meleeDisordered group skirmish
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
altercation · fracas · ruckus · clash · kerfuffle · rumble · donnybrook · affray · scrap · dustup
grappled
Engaged in close combat
tangled · locked · gripped · seized · clutched · pinned · tumbled · rolling · flailing · thrashing
scraped
Rubbed harshly against
scratched · skidded · rasped · ground · scoured · abraded · worn · marked · friction · footwork
scuffledembraced
Held someone warmly
hugged · made peace · cooperated · reconciled · collaborated
scufflednegotiated
Reached terms through discussion
discussed · debated · mediated · reasoned · arbitrated
scuffle, scuffles, scuffling, scufflings, scuffler, scufflers