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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of brawl
Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
Everyone on the ice got into a full-on brawl at that point, with Gadjovich and Edmonton’s Darnell Nurse going at it for a lengthy fight with multiple big punches blown before both of them and three other players were sent off with misconducts.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 12 June 2025
Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 1 May 2025
Rollins followed him there and the two brawled on top of the cage.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brawl
Noun
Sophie Cunningham just became one of the most popular players in the WNBA last night, after getting into a brawl at the end of the Fever's game against the Sun, which has caused her jersey sales to skyrocket.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
Everyone on the ice got into a full-on brawl at that point, with Gadjovich and Edmonton’s Darnell Nurse going at it for a lengthy fight with multiple big punches blown before both of them and three other players were sent off with misconducts.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 12 June 2025
Verb
The two continued brawling down the block on Baychester Ave., where the victim pulled out a knife and the suspect opened fire, a police source said.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 1 May 2025
Rollins followed him there and the two brawled on top of the cage.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brawl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brawl
Noun
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In many ways, the game might offer a blueprint for the quarterfinal clash against Paris Saint-Germain.—
Manuel Veth,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
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Small groups of far-right counter-protesters attempted to disrupt the parade, but police kept them away and diverted the route of the march to avoid any clashes.—
Anita Komuves,
USA Today,
28 June 2025
Noun
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At Monday’s arraignment, when prosecutors revealed the details of the altercation, a judge ordered Horsman to be held without bail.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
30 June 2025
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In a now-viral recording of the altercation posted to Reddit, Perry is seen grabbing the other passenger's hair.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
27 June 2025
Noun
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But the loudest roar — aside the one for the record strikeout — came when Kershaw bounded out of the dugout to start the sixth.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2025
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The rush of wind and thrum of tire roar was punctuated, not by engine revs and tailpipe cackles, but by birdsong.—
Alistair Charlton,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
Verb
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In 2012, surviving members of the Beach Boys reunited for a 50th anniversary album, which quickly hit the Top 10 before the group again bickered and separated.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 June 2025
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Vance memes, framing the vice president as the troubled child of bickering parents.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Noun
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Scores of cops responding to a 911 call about a disorderly group swarmed in to break up the wild melee and arrested about 17 boys, officials said.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
24 June 2025
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In the melee, second base ump Kellen Levy fell backward to the ground.—
Mitch Sherman,
New York Times,
22 June 2025
Noun
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Before the dispute, the Shinawatras and the Huns of Cambodia — two of Southeast Asia’s most influential political dynasties — had enjoyed close personal relations for decades.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
1 July 2025
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The dispute has influenced Paramount’s approach to a lawsuit accusing it of deceptively editing an interview with Kamala Harris.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
30 June 2025
Noun
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Some commercial leaf blowers are even louder, generating 115 decibels of noise up close and 100 decibels at 50 feet.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 July 2025
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The establishment, El Cielo Bar at 1226 W. Lincoln Ave., was effectively shuttered in November by the Milwaukee Common Council after complaints of noise, fights and gunshots.—
Sophie Carson,
jsonline.com,
3 July 2025
Verb
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The city argued the policy was confidential, and would interfere with the department’s ability to fight crime.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 June 2025
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The fire has been fought by 16 engines, seven water tenders, three dozers and three hand crews.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brawl. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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