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
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Recent Examples of brawl
Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 May 2026
Uribe was suspended for six games and fined following a benches-clearing brawl against the Tampa Bay Rays in April 2024.
—Jim Hoehn, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
Nick El Hajj, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Republicans have a rare, if slim, shot at winning the governor’s mansion in deep blue California — but risk blowing it if they’re divided and brawling when voters receive their ballots in early May.
—Joe Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brawl
Noun
Velazquez also painted a mural in Arlington depicting the 2016 brawl between former Texas Rangers infielder Rougned Odor and Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 May 2026
Uribe was suspended for six games and fined following a benches-clearing brawl against the Tampa Bay Rays in April 2024.
—Jim Hoehn, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
Verb
And in 2025, the Bearista cup caused a craze, with customers lining up overnight and, in some cases, brawling over it.
—Nick El Hajj, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Republicans have a rare, if slim, shot at winning the governor’s mansion in deep blue California — but risk blowing it if they’re divided and brawling when voters receive their ballots in early May.
—Joe Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brawl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brawl
Noun
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With simple syrup the clash of the liqueurs is too sharp, the flavor equivalent of swords clanging together.—
Jason O'Bryan,
Robb Report,
30 May 2026
-
The ruling is the latest high-profile clash between Williams and Republican officials.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
30 May 2026
Noun
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The Grammy winner’s Ring camera caught the altercation when her private security intervened and tried to get Applegate to leave.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2026
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The altercation allegedly led to a brief fight in which the granddaughter is accused of pulling on one of the kids' hair before being separated.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
2 June 2026
Noun
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Fudd got a loud roar of applause upon being introduced and seemingly played with a spark, starting the game off aggressively in the first half.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 May 2026
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As Tottenham’s Italian head coach turned towards the crowd and let out a roar of sheer jubilation, substitute goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario jumped on his back.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Verb
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While things have calmed over the years, the siblings still bicker and often disagree.—
Eva Remijan-Toba,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2026
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While the concrete cured, the starting eight matches of the first-ever World Cup were relocated to Pocitos and Gran Parque Central, the home grounds of capital rivals Peñarol and Nacional, who'd been bickering since their first meeting in July 1900.—
Paul Jebara,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 May 2026
Noun
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In the melee, all but two of the buttons on his tuxedo shirt popped off.—
Kathleen Perricone,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 June 2026
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Justice Curtis Farber handed down the sentence to Alejandro Piedra, 32, for claiming the life of 38-year-old Clemson Cockfield, and grievously injuring the victim’s wife, Jennifer Cockfield, and another man, Jonathan Lopez, during a bloody melee on June 23, 2024.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
26 May 2026
Noun
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In 2023, Archer settled intellectual property disputes with Boeing and its air taxi unit Wisk, and signed an agreement to collaborate on autonomous tech, and invested in the air taxi maker.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
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Carney acknowledged that while the US and Canada have had disputes, the countries have always worked through them, and that a more independent Canada makes the country a better ally.—
Reuters May 28,
CNN Money,
29 May 2026
Noun
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The noise, which sounded like a tree falling to the ground or a large round of thunder, became the talk of the day on a rainy, cold Saturday in late May.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
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Several hours later, troopers, including some on horseback, deployed heavy riot control tactics, including noise bombs, tear gas grenades, pepper spray and riot shields in an attempt to disperse the mob.—
Preston Mizell,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
Verb
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While Hulst tried to fight his way through traffic, Serna was in unfamiliar territory.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
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Aspiring journalist Lily’s camera was recording when the OPEF Marines invaded and began killing both Marsies and the Peacekeepers force that was actually aligned with the Marines and fighting against the Marsies.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brawl. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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