1
as in clash
a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people
they were thrown out of the party after starting a brawl
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in altercation
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
the student drama society's decision to put on the controversial play prompted a brawl at the school board meeting
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in roar
loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound
we could hear the brawl of the river rapids ahead of us before we could actually see them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to bicker
to express different opinions about something often angrily
the Wilsons were always loudly brawling, and the neighbors were always shutting their windows
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of brawl
Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Role in brawl unclear Kittle's specific role in the brawl has not been described in court or in court records.
—Kevin Grasha, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Oct. 2025
Bart Jansen, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
The three childlike siblings, who all wear thick black-rimmed Coke-bottled glasses and often speak in cartoonish unison, were previously a cost-saving embarrassment for the Chiefs, but their penchant for brawling and immature antics quickly garner the team popularity as ruthless heels.
—Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brawl
Noun
These brawls further eroded democratic norms, while driving voters away from left-wing and moderate parties who seemed helpless to halt them.
—Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Role in brawl unclear Kittle's specific role in the brawl has not been described in court or in court records.
—Kevin Grasha, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
Sports could be dangerous even without brawling in UFC’s Octagon, an eight-sided cage.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
The three childlike siblings, who all wear thick black-rimmed Coke-bottled glasses and often speak in cartoonish unison, were previously a cost-saving embarrassment for the Chiefs, but their penchant for brawling and immature antics quickly garner the team popularity as ruthless heels.
—Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brawl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brawl
Noun
-
Sunday’s clash will mark the 10th meeting in six years between Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.—
Andy Scholes,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
-
After the clash, Geralt is knighted for his bravery, fulfilling his oldest fantasy—but at a cost.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Kings trailed by 15 when the altercation occurred.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
2 Nov. 2025
-
During a 2020 interview with DJ VLAD, Mack 10 rehashed the near-altercation with Common and reiterated that Fat Joe stepped in to smooth things over.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But the piece de resistance is a small button on the face of the guitar that, when pressed, activates a chip on a soundboard that elicits the distinctive roar of Godzilla.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Oct. 2025
-
With seven seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and the Thunder leading 113-111, the Cameroonian forward stepped back over Oklahoma City center Chet Holmgren to sink a high-arching, 22-foot jumper that sparked a roar from the Indiana crowd.—
Frank Nunns O'Connell 15 hr ago,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The pair bicker and bond their way through the whimsical Panda Kingdom, a vibrant world that blends the everyday with the extraordinary, carrying animals and humans alike into something at once magical and mundane.—
Ben Croll,
Variety,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Roberts and Tim Robbins play American journalists in Paris who lose their luggage and bicker over a hotel room and then wind up in bed together.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The story opens at Kyoto’s Tenryu-ji Temple, where 292 participants gather for the first battle — a vast, night-long melee staged without digital enhancement.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
27 Oct. 2025
-
But Saturday in Austin stung McLaren greatly, as a melee at Turn 1 ended with its drivers touching and retiring, opening the door for Verstappen to make the maximum sprint win gain.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Diplomacy is critical to resolve disputes such as the Helmand River conflict, while the government must manage human and economic effects—such as shrinking harvests and salt-dust health risks.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The streaming service lost 21 channels after the live TV provider's contract dispute with The Walt Disney Company ended in an impasse.—
Jenny Porter Tilley,
Louisville Courier Journal,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Flooding the valley with noise and velocity, making an impressive mess – smash-up of trees, shrubbery, and unballasted creatures.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The era of noise is fading, and a quieter, more serious phase has begun.—
Gus Bartholomew,
Sourcing Journal,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
More than other age groups, teens have to fight to stay on a schedule that doesn't match their biology.—
NPR,
NPR,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Since taking office, Manzo, often seen wearing a bulletproof vest, had called on the federal government to do more to fight organized crime while expressing fears for his own safety.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brawl. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share