tussle
Rough physical clash
A tussle is a vigorous struggle or scuffle, typically brief and not seriously violent: The kids got into a tussle over the remote.
The word suggests physical grappling but extends to any spirited contest or dispute: a tussle with bureaucracy, a legal tussle over property rights.
To tussle is to engage in such a struggle.
Brief disorderly struggle
- grappleSeize and fight closely
- wrestleEngage in physical combat
- clinchSettle beyond doubt
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
brawl · roughhouse · shove · jostle · scrimmage · tumble · scrum · tangle
Seize and fight closely
- contendStruggle in opposition
- wrestleEngage in physical combat
- battleArmed military engagement
- fightPhysical or verbal conflict
effort · difficulty · strain · endeavor · labor · challenge · ordeal · hard-won
Playful, spirited activity
- roughhouseRowdy physical play
- horseplayBoisterous rough behavior
- wrestleEngage in physical combat
- tumbleUncontrolled rolling descent
frolic · scrap · rough-and-tumble · romping
Reasoned case or dispute
- quarrelAngry verbal dispute
- squabbleTrivial noisy argument
- spatPetty verbal dispute
- bickeringPetty verbal sparring
wrangle · row · disagreement · altercation · dispute · clash · contention · back-and-forth
scuffle
Brief disorderly struggle
skirmish · brawl · roughhouse · shove · jostle · scrimmage · tumble · scrum · tangle · struggle
grapple
Seize and fight closely
fight · effort · difficulty · strain · endeavor · labor · challenge · ordeal · hard-won · grueling
romp
Playful, spirited activity
- roughhouseRowdy physical play
- horseplayBoisterous rough behavior
- wrestleEngage in physical combat
tumble · frolic · scrap · rough-and-tumble · romping
argument
Reasoned case or dispute
bickering · wrangle · row · disagreement · altercation · dispute · clash · contention · back-and-forth · exchange
rivalry
Ongoing contest between opponents
- contestOrganized competitive event
- battleArmed military engagement
- showdownDecisive final confrontation
face-off · matchup · duel · standoff · clash · challenge · jockeying · one-upmanship · vying · head-to-head
- conflictclash, fight, war, battle, dispute
- clashesconflict, confrontation, collision, fight, battle
- fighting wordsfight me, bring it, square up, throw hands, step outside
- fightsfight, brawl, scuffle, scrap, fistfight
- fistfightspunch, jab, uppercut, haymaker, right hook
- roughhousingroughhouse, roughhousing, rough play, rough and tumble, horseplay
tusslecalm
Free from agitation
stillness · repose · rest · tranquility · inactivity