scrimmage
1 of 2noun
scrim·mage ˈskri-mij 
1
a
: a minor battle : skirmish
b
: a confused fight : scuffle
2
a
: the interplay between two football teams that begins with the snap of the ball and continues until the ball is dead
b
: practice play (as in football or basketball) between two squads
scrimmage
2 of 2verb
scrimmaged; scrimmaging
intransitive verb
: to take part in a scrimmage
transitive verb
: to play a scrimmage against
scrimmager noun
Synonyms
Noun
- battle
- clash
- combat
- conflict
- contest
- dustup
- fight
- fracas
- fray
- hassle
- scrap
- scrum
- scuffle
- skirmish
- struggle
- tussle
Verb
- battle
- clash (with)
- combat
- fight
- skirmish (with)
- war (against)
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun The first play from scrimmage netted them a touchdown. the two players got into a scrimmage off the court and got suspended Verb Last weekend we scrimmaged against Bell High.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nathan Baird, cleveland, 2 Sep. 2022 When asked Saturday about the offensive line after Saturday’s scrimmage, Saban made a similar pivot. Mike Rodak | Mrodak@al.com, al, 26 Aug. 2022 The 6-foot-6, 193-pound receiver caught a long touchdown pass during last week’s second scrimmage of fall camp and was among three freshman coach Dan Lanning highlighted afterward. James Crepea | The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 25 Aug. 2022 Prior to training camp, the UCF coach aimed to name a starting quarterback following the second scrimmage but an extra week was needed to make the choice. Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2022 That competition continues Friday in MSU’s second scrimmage of preseason camp. Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press, 17 Aug. 2022 Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick mentioned Ethan Erickson after the scrimmage on Saturday. Kevin Reynolds, The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 Aug. 2022 None of that will be clear after a single scrimmage. Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2022 After the Blue-White scrimmage, Calipari confirmed junior point guard Sahvir Wheeler, freshman guard TyTy Washington and junior forward Oscar Tshiebwe had taken an early lead for three of the starting spots. Jon Hale, The Courier-Journal, 30 Oct. 2021 San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2022 Karnišovas’ lack of optimism matched that of general manager Marc Eversley, who said on draft night last month that Ball hasn’t been able to scrimmage. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2022 Elkins will scrimmage at Pea Ridge on Aug. 16, open the season at Pottsville on Aug. 26 and play its home opener against Charleston on Sept. 2. Arkansas Online, 24 July 2022 Inviting male students to scrimmage with women's teams is also a common practice around the country, especially in basketball, according to USA TODAY's report. Brooks Holton, The Courier-Journal, 22 June 2022 The Warriors likely will scrimmage Thursday, and their playoff opener against the Nuggets is Saturday at Chase Center. Ron Kroichick By, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Apr. 2022 Usually, before an Olympics, the U.S. is able to scrimmage teams from across the world to ready themselves for the competition. Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2022 The Challengers league will be, and that could mean CDL teams have a harder go at finding teams to scrimmage if another CDL squad isn’t readily available. Sean Collins, Dallas News, 21 Apr. 2021 Jason said his freshman group would often scrimmage his older brother’s team. Rick Armstrong, chicagotribune.com, 7 Dec. 2021 See More
Noun
Miyan Williams said the offensive line began getting off the ball better after that scrimmage. Nathan Baird, cleveland, 2 Sep. 2022 When asked Saturday about the offensive line after Saturday’s scrimmage, Saban made a similar pivot. Mike Rodak | Mrodak@al.com, al, 26 Aug. 2022 The 6-foot-6, 193-pound receiver caught a long touchdown pass during last week’s second scrimmage of fall camp and was among three freshman coach Dan Lanning highlighted afterward. James Crepea | The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 25 Aug. 2022 Prior to training camp, the UCF coach aimed to name a starting quarterback following the second scrimmage but an extra week was needed to make the choice. Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2022 That competition continues Friday in MSU’s second scrimmage of preseason camp. Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press, 17 Aug. 2022 Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick mentioned Ethan Erickson after the scrimmage on Saturday. Kevin Reynolds, The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 Aug. 2022 None of that will be clear after a single scrimmage. Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2022 After the Blue-White scrimmage, Calipari confirmed junior point guard Sahvir Wheeler, freshman guard TyTy Washington and junior forward Oscar Tshiebwe had taken an early lead for three of the starting spots. Jon Hale, The Courier-Journal, 30 Oct. 2021 Verb
The head coach also plans to scrimmage the team at Snapdragon 10 days out from the Sept. 3 season opener against Arizona. San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2022 Karnišovas’ lack of optimism matched that of general manager Marc Eversley, who said on draft night last month that Ball hasn’t been able to scrimmage. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2022 Elkins will scrimmage at Pea Ridge on Aug. 16, open the season at Pottsville on Aug. 26 and play its home opener against Charleston on Sept. 2. Arkansas Online, 24 July 2022 Inviting male students to scrimmage with women's teams is also a common practice around the country, especially in basketball, according to USA TODAY's report. Brooks Holton, The Courier-Journal, 22 June 2022 The Warriors likely will scrimmage Thursday, and their playoff opener against the Nuggets is Saturday at Chase Center. Ron Kroichick By, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Apr. 2022 Usually, before an Olympics, the U.S. is able to scrimmage teams from across the world to ready themselves for the competition. Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2022 The Challengers league will be, and that could mean CDL teams have a harder go at finding teams to scrimmage if another CDL squad isn’t readily available. Sean Collins, Dallas News, 21 Apr. 2021 Jason said his freshman group would often scrimmage his older brother’s team. Rick Armstrong, chicagotribune.com, 7 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English scrymmage, alteration of skyrmissh skirmish
First Known Use
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
circa 1536, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Phrases Containing scrimmage
Kids Definition
scrimmage
noun
scrim·mage ˈskri-mij
1
: the action between two football teams when one attempts to move the ball down the field
2
: a practice game between two teams or between two groups from the same team
scrimmages
noun
as in skirmishes
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups the two players got into a scrimmage off the court and got suspended Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- skirmishes
- clashes
- fights
- battles
- contests
- scuffles
- brawls
- dustups
- struggles
- tussles
- duels
- scrums
- confrontations
- altercations
- conflicts
- fracases
- frays
- combats
- fracas
- slugfests
- quarrels
- melees
- jousts
- fistfights
- scraps
- pitched battles
- fisticuffs
- disputes
- blows
- affrays
- donnybrooks
- hassles
- squabbles
- spats
- ruckuses
- mêlées
- face-offs
- battles royal
- battle royales
- punch-ups
- rows
- catfights
- controversies
- broils
- rough-and-tumbles
- battle royals
- disagreements
- free-for-alls
- battles royale
- tiffs
- ructions
- contretemps
- misunderstandings
- arguments
- tangles
- mix-ups
- cross fires
- falling-outs
- punch-outs
- argle-bargles
- kickups
- wrangles
- handgrips
- grapples
- argy-bargies
- fallings-out
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- truces