scuffles
Rough disorderly tussles
Scuffles are brief, disorderly fights or struggles, typically involving grabbing and pushing rather than formal blows: Scuffles broke out between protesters and police.
The word suggests something less serious than a brawl—chaotic but usually short-lived.
To scuffle is to engage in such a struggle, or to move with a shuffling, scraping gait.
Disorderly group fight
- meleeDisordered group skirmish
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
- fisticuffsHand-to-hand combat
- tussleBrief physical struggle
altercation · scrap · fracas · donnybrook · kerfuffle · rumble · affray · roughhouse
Noisy fuss or disturbance
- incidentA distinct event
- commotionNoisy, confused disturbance
- ruckusNoisy, disruptive commotion
- disturbanceDisruption of order
fracas · to-do · scene · brouhaha · flap · fuss · uproar · dust-up
Angry verbal dispute
- spatPetty verbal dispute
- squabbleTrivial noisy argument
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
- rowLinear arrangement across
argument · contretemps · wrangle · tiff · confrontation · disagreement · exchange · war of words
Violent disagreement or collision
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
- riotViolent public disturbance
- unrestState of public disturbance
uprising · disturbance · civil disorder · street fighting · confrontation · resistance · crackdown · rally
brawl
Disorderly group fight
- meleeDisordered group skirmish
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
- fisticuffsHand-to-hand combat
tussle · altercation · scrap · fracas · donnybrook · kerfuffle · rumble · affray · roughhouse · shoving
kerfuffle
Noisy fuss or disturbance
disturbance · fracas · to-do · scene · brouhaha · flap · fuss · uproar · dust-up · run-in
quarrel
Angry verbal dispute
row · argument · contretemps · wrangle · tiff · confrontation · disagreement · exchange · war of words · shouting match
clash
Violent disagreement or collision
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
- riotViolent public disturbance
unrest · uprising · disturbance · civil disorder · street fighting · confrontation · resistance · crackdown · rally · standoff
scufflespeace
Freedom from disturbance
embraces · hugs · reconciliations · harmony · tranquility
scufflesbattles
Military combat events
warfare · wars · military engagements · pitched battles · campaigns
scufflesbloodbaths
Large-scale violent killings
massacres · carnage · slaughter · mortal combat · brawls
scuffle, scuffled, scuffling, scufflings, scuffler, scufflers