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
Robert Anglen, AZCentral.com, 24 Sep. 2025
Suarez was still out, suspended for the third and final game of his three-game ban for his involvement in the post-match brawl at the Leagues Cup final against Seattle.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
Fred C. Mercer, Outdoor Life, 14 Aug. 2025
The men Danielson brawled with—Wheeler Yuta, Claudio Castagnoli, and Gabe Kidd—were all members or associates of the Blackpool Combat Club, a faction that Danielson himself founded alongside Moxley.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for brawl
Noun
In July, a group of girls got into a brawl near the restaurant's entrance that others recorded and posted on social media.
—Robert Anglen, AZCentral.com, 24 Sep. 2025
Suarez was still out, suspended for the third and final game of his three-game ban for his involvement in the post-match brawl at the Leagues Cup final against Seattle.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
Verb
Cottonwood Creek was brawling down its rocky channel, making a loud racket in the stillness of the morning.
—Fred C. Mercer, Outdoor Life, 14 Aug. 2025
The men Danielson brawled with—Wheeler Yuta, Claudio Castagnoli, and Gabe Kidd—were all members or associates of the Blackpool Combat Club, a faction that Danielson himself founded alongside Moxley.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for brawl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brawl
Noun
-
Blame Mercury’s clash with Chiron!—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Previous attempts by activist flotillas to break the blockade have largely failed and sometimes sparked deadly clashes, including during the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla raid.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In May, Van Hecke was involved in an altercation in training with then-Brighton team-mate Joao Pedro.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Sanchez, 38, was involved in an altercation with the 69-year-old truck driver in the early-morning hours of Saturday, when police said the driver allegedly stabbed Sanchez while defending himself during a fight.—
Patrick Hipes,
Deadline,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
From the roar of the crowd to the quiet focus of a camera shutter, former Philadelphia Eagles HOFer Malcolm Jenkins has gracefully transitioned from NFL star to passionate photographer.—
John Armwood III,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
-
His voice was still raw from calling plays over the roar of Lincoln Financial Field.—
Adam Grosbard,
Oc Register,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In recent years, the companies have bickered about the rise of streaming services, in which the media companies are investing billions of dollars and which lure away cable and satellite customers.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Other witnesses indicated that the shooter was a third person who entered the fight between Runnels and Collins’ nephew after the two had already started to bicker, according to court records.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Players have five main melee weapons — the katana, dual katana, odachi, kusarigama and yari.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The boozy night soon led to a fight and Lennon and Nilsson were escorted out of the venue, and per the original Sotheby’s catalog listing, Lennon lost the pair in the melee and Tommy Smothers’ wife grabbed them.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The Palladinos departed after Season 6 due to contract disputes with WB, and David Rosenthal stepped in as showrunner and head writer.—
Anna Tingley,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The dispute occurred during a hearing on a Republican bill to ban public funds for health care for undocumented immigrants.—
Jessie Opoien,
jsonline.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The final finished 14-14, but my abiding memory is the intoxicating swirl of noise and colour created by almost 93,000 fans, plus the sense of anticipation that accompanied the pre-match walk up Olympic Way.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
After hearing noises, the couple barrelled up into the living room, naked, with Rhys brandishing a poker from the fireplace.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Meet Nashville's new crime-fighting Clydesdale Metro Nashville mounted patrol officer Michael Douglas squeezed a three-foot-long rubber chicken, producing an increasingly louder and closer screeching sound to try and provoke a 1,700-pound Clydesdale named Ross.—
Laura L. Davis,
Nashville Tennessean,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The event, launched in 1982, celebrates the freedom to read and express ideas and emphasizes the importance of fighting censorship.—
Jennifer Borresen,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brawl. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share