What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
melee
Example
The soldiers engaged in a fierce melee with the enemy troops. [melee: noun]
Example
During the riot, the police had to break up several melees between protesters. [melees: plural noun]
skirmish
Example
The two armies clashed in a skirmish before retreating to their respective positions. [skirmish: noun]
Example
The siblings got into a skirmish over who would get to use the computer first. [skirmish: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Skirmish is more commonly used than melee in everyday language. Skirmish is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while melee is less common and often associated with more extreme situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between melee and skirmish?
Both melee and skirmish are relatively formal words that are more likely to be used in written or spoken language than in casual conversation. However, skirmish is more versatile and can be used in various formality levels, while melee is more specific and may be limited to certain contexts.
