skir·mish
ˈskər-mish 
1
: a minor fight in war usually incidental to larger movements
2
a
: a brisk preliminary verbal conflict
b
: a minor dispute or contest between opposing parties
the debate touched off a skirmish
skirmished; skirmishing; skirmishes
skirmisher
noun
Examples of skirmish in a Sentence
Noun
Skirmishes broke out between rebel groups.
Violent skirmishes with the enemy continue despite talks of peace.
Verb
Rebel groups are skirmishing with military forces.
The presidential candidates skirmished over their economic plans.
Recent Examples on the Web
Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 3 Mar. 2025
Since the onset of Israel’s war against Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces engaged in cross-border skirmishes with Hezbollah – including ground operations on Lebanese soil – until a ceasefire deal was struck late last year.
—Greg Norman, Fox News, 28 Feb. 2025
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 22 Feb. 2025
The defense consultant Serge Willoughby plays a prank on his host at a Georgetown party that completely backfires to the point that not only is the host arrested but also skirmishing between the United States and China begins and World War III looms.
—Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skirmish
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Noun
The killings helped ignite the Revolutionary War that began following the April 19, 1775, skirmishes called the Battle of Lexington and Concord and the vastly bloodier June 17, 1775, Battle of Bunker Hill in Charlestown.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 3 Mar. 2025
Since the onset of Israel’s war against Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces engaged in cross-border skirmishes with Hezbollah – including ground operations on Lebanese soil – until a ceasefire deal was struck late last year.
—Greg Norman, Fox News, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
Watching the map provides all the information about where combatants are moving, what skirmishes they’re engaged in, and where points of convergence may arise.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 22 Feb. 2025
The defense consultant Serge Willoughby plays a prank on his host at a Georgetown party that completely backfires to the point that not only is the host arrested but also skirmishing between the United States and China begins and World War III looms.
—Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skirmish
Cite this Entry
“Skirmish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skirmish. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
skirmish
1 of 2 noun
skir·mish
ˈskər-mish
1
: a minor fight between small bodies of troops
2
: a minor dispute or contest
skirmish
2 of 2 verb1
: to engage in a skirmish
2
: to search about (as for supplies)
skirmisher
noun
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