as in brawl
a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people
the police had to break up an affray that started between fans of the opposing teams
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of affray
Charges include minor in possession of alcohol, destruction of property, drinking in public, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, assault and battery, disturbing the peace, affray and disorderly, and assault and battery on police officers, Boyle said.
—
Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 17 Mar. 2025
The two men were arrested on suspicion of assault, assault of an emergency worker, affray (fighting in public), and obstructing police.
—Reuters, NBC News, 25 July 2024
That simple affray charge was dismissed on April 22, according to court records.
—Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 8 June 2024
Although Stokes was fully acquitted of affray, the incident had a deep effect on him and was a stop-the-clock moment in his career.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for affray
Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 17 Mar. 2025
The two men were arrested on suspicion of assault, assault of an emergency worker, affray (fighting in public), and obstructing police.
—Reuters, NBC News, 25 July 2024
That simple affray charge was dismissed on April 22, according to court records.
—Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 8 June 2024
Although Stokes was fully acquitted of affray, the incident had a deep effect on him and was a stop-the-clock moment in his career.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for affray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affray
Noun
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Setting aside the brewing shutdown brawl, allowing the subsidies to go by the way side could also be politically untenable for certain vulnerable Republicans and tee up voter backlash in next year’s midterms.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
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Inter Miami players Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Tomas Aviles, and Seattle Sounders staff member Steven Lenhart, received multiple game suspensions from the 2026 Leagues Cup as punishment for their behavior during a post-game brawl following Sunday’s Leagues Cup final.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The Buffalo Bills ejected the fan who got into an altercation with Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson during Sunday night’s game at Highmark Stadium.—
Jenna West,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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The altercation happened with about eight minutes remaining in the third quarter of the game.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The cutbacks are the result of a clash over two budgets—the SEPTA budget and the Pennsylvania budget.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
4 Sep. 2025
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An opening clash in Luxembourg is followed up by a bout against the four-time world champions in Cologne, as Michael O’Neill’s young team dreams of emulating the side that made it to the 1986 tournament in Mexico.—
Jack Bantock,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Affray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affray. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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