skirmishing

Definitions

Engaging in a minor or preliminary fight or argument.

Participating in irregular or episodic military combat between small detachments.

Examples

The two rival factions were skirmishing along the border for several weeks before the full-scale war broke out.

Small groups of soldiers were seen skirmishing in the dense forest, testing the enemy's defenses.

Synonyms

clashing sparring bickering engaging wrestling battling contending

Antonyms

agreeing harmonizing cooperating uniting concurring reconciling peace-making