noun
tussle
TUH-suhl
noun
1
A brief, rough physical struggle or fight.
"The two dogs got into a tussle over the ball."
2
A heated disagreement or dispute.
"There was a tussle between the two departments over the budget."
verb
1
To struggle or scuffle with someone.
"The children tussled playfully on the lawn."
How to Use Tussle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA short scuffle or argument, whether physical or over an issue.
Common pairings
a tussle over
get into a tussle
Word Forms
tussled past tense, tussles plural, tussles singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “tussle”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The two dogs got into a _____ over the ball.
Etymology
Related to "tousle", both likely coming from an old word meaning to pull or handle roughly.