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
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Recent Examples of brawl
Katie Campione, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2025
Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch's ejection for his role in a postgame brawl during Sunday night's game in Kansas City has become a hot button topic for NFL and Lions fans ever since, with Lions players Alim McNeill and Dan Skipper expressing their anger in recent days.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 18 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
The premiere episode opens with Colter starting a brawl in a small town bar after another patron disrespects the bartender.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2025
Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch's ejection for his role in a postgame brawl during Sunday night's game in Kansas City has become a hot button topic for NFL and Lions fans ever since, with Lions players Alim McNeill and Dan Skipper expressing their anger in recent days.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 18 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
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The clash occurs more so on the stylistic side and acclimatising to Villa’s methods.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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Fundraisers for the victims of devil attacks, apparently a common occurrence in this reality, acknowledge the death toll that these supernatural clashes leave behind.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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During the altercation, Lind drew a gun and fired off shots, killing Emma Borhanian, one of the Zizians.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Oct. 2025
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The investigation showed the incident began as a road rage event, initially a verbal altercation, involving the occupants of a pair of vehicles, the release states.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Anchored by Syracuse University, the city hums with youthful spirit, from buzzy Marshall Street to the roar of the JMA Wireless Dome, where Orange basketball games regularly draw some of the largest crowds in college hoops.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Oct. 2025
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The only noise was the roar of the crowd when Cole Sullivan and Jimmy Rolder intercepted passes on back-to-back drives, or when Bryce Underwood rolled out and found a wide-open Zack Marshall in the end zone.—
Austin Meek,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
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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
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As teams met near midfield following the final whistle, Branch walked past Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, declining his handshake, and approached Smith‑Schuster; Branch then struck Smith‑Schuster in the face, knocking him down and drawing a brief melee that involved players from both teams.—
Rowan Fisher-Shotton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Arenas has since said the dispute started over a game of bourré.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
24 Oct. 2025
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The dispute has largely remained peaceful so far.—
Omar S Mahmood,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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First, despite tabloid headlines about Leto, such noise doesn’t factor into moviegoers’ decisions to buy or not buy a ticket; it could be argued most were not even in the know of the June Air Mail exposé on his alleged behavior.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
20 Oct. 2025
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The outlet reported that noise from the construction was also audible on the White House's campus.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The line occurs when the film’s protagonist, Ripley (Weaver), emerges from an elevator in a giant metal bodysuit, ready to fight a terrifying alien to save a young child.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
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Season-long struggles; still fighting Charlotte has five games left on the schedule, starting with North Texas (6-1, 2-1 American) next Friday night on ESPN2.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brawl. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
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