to scuffle
- verb
- /ˈskʌfəl/
- "So we all paraded out, Mr. Mo lurching, Tiny rotating, the rest of us scuffling along.
- scuffling feet
- heard scuffling
- scuffling just outside
Examples
-
Margaret tried to sleep, but she heard scuffling feet and smothered giggles at the foot of her bed.
Fiction book (1992) -
The cat scuffled across the kitchen floor, making a noise as it pushed past the chairs.
-
What kind of life have you got scuffling around the small rooms?
-
Something scuffles across my feet; I die a little; I decide it's a possum.
Fiction book (2000) -
Barry heard something scuffling through the weeds near where he lay.
Fiction book (2001) -
The other men stood silently, scuffling their heavy boots in the dust.
Fiction book (1995) -
"Andrew trudged ahead, kicking up tiny clouds of dust as he scuffled along the dirt path.
Fiction book (1993) -
Nacho came back wearing blue-striped boxers, scuffling the floor with his shower shoes.
Fiction book (1994) -
A thud and a scuffling sound from the maze of bookshelves beyond answered her.
Fiction book (1992) -
Randy and Bill, her husband, watch as Sam turns and walks purposefully down the walkway—his house slippers scuffling on the quiet street.
Fiction book (2001)
Synonyms
To move in a heavy, noisy, and clumsy way
To walk by dragging your feet and making a soft rubbing sound
Antonyms
Compounds
How Noisy
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Scuffle (verb: move noisily) is related to the word shuffle, and you can picture feet or objects dragging and making soft noises as they 'scuffle' along. So scuffle can mean a quiet, shuffling or dragging movement as well as a struggle.