Entry Word: brawl

Function: noun

Meaning: 1 a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people <they were thrown out of the party after starting a brawl>

Synonyms affray, fracas, fray, free-for-all, melee, row, ruckus, ruction

Related Words battle, clash, combat, conflict, contest, fight, fisticuffs, scrap, scrimmage, scuffle, struggle, tussle; horseplay, roughhousing; altercation, argument, dispute, quarrel, spat, squabble, tiff, wrangle

2 an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <the student drama societyʼs decision to put on the controversial play prompted a brawl at the school board meeting> — see argument 1