1
as in clashes
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 altercations
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 noises
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 fights
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
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Recent Examples of brawls
Staff, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
That kicked off 240-character brawls with other scientists who insisted that flu posed a greater risk than COVID-19.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
Viral videos of onboard brawls contributed to the airline’s notoriety.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
Malema heads the Economic Freedom Fighters, which advocates for the expropriation of mines, banks and land, and is notorious for starting brawls in parliament.
—Jonathan Tirone, Bloomberg, 16 Apr. 2026
Other brewhouse brawls happen at Magnanimous Brewing in Tampa (Havoc And Haze) and Walking Tree Brewery in Vero Beach (Rooted In Chaos), often drawing 300 to 500 visitors, CCW co-owner Dan Ackerman says.
—Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
This provoked what became known as the Aston Riot, with nearby public houses wrecked and violent brawls ensuing.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2026
While on-ice brawls are nothing new in professional ice hockey, flying fisticuffs have a history in the police and fireman face off from years past.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
The Avs and Stars haven’t had games devolve into all-out brawls like Tampa Bay and Florida have.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
Violent chaos erupted in Brooklyn as anti-Israel protesters swarmed a synagogue this week, blocking access to a real estate event and sparking physical brawls with Jewish supporters.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
That kicked off 240-character brawls with other scientists who insisted that flu posed a greater risk than COVID-19.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
Viral videos of onboard brawls contributed to the airline’s notoriety.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
Malema heads the Economic Freedom Fighters, which advocates for the expropriation of mines, banks and land, and is notorious for starting brawls in parliament.
—Jonathan Tirone, Bloomberg, 16 Apr. 2026
Other brewhouse brawls happen at Magnanimous Brewing in Tampa (Havoc And Haze) and Walking Tree Brewery in Vero Beach (Rooted In Chaos), often drawing 300 to 500 visitors, CCW co-owner Dan Ackerman says.
—Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
This provoked what became known as the Aston Riot, with nearby public houses wrecked and violent brawls ensuing.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2026
While on-ice brawls are nothing new in professional ice hockey, flying fisticuffs have a history in the police and fireman face off from years past.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
The Avs and Stars haven’t had games devolve into all-out brawls like Tampa Bay and Florida have.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
As the man brawls with his in-laws, the boy is caught between two worlds, of male rage and female subjection.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brawls
Noun
-
The protest turned violent with clashes breaking out between pro-Palestinian supporters, who were protesting an event hosted by the synagogue to promote land for sale in Israel, and pro-Israel counterprotesters.—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
-
Widespread protests followed, along with some clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement and the deployment of the National Guard.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Sunday’s defeat at Barcelona capped an embarrassing week for Madrid, marked by altercations between players in training that led the club to fine Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni 500,000 euros ($589,000) each.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 May 2026
-
The cases stemmed from a series of allegations, each made that the other acted violently in a series of altercations that month.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
10 May 2026
Noun
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Weighing just 18 pounds (8 kilograms), the chair is light enough to pick up one handed but bulky enough to stay grounded, while a fiber layer atop the cushion similarly counters the flaws of its predecessor by preventing unwanted moisture or noises.—
Jack Bantock,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
-
Shuffling noises were heard, and then a pointy white gown popped into the lobby.—
Jane Bua,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
His wife, Elizabeth, fights to hold things together at all costs, while their daughter, Jenna, confronts the collapse of her aspirations to attend Juilliard.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
17 May 2026
-
Jamie fights him off pretty easily and Ferguson is taken prisoner.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Tempers flared between the teams, leading to a couple of skirmishes.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
-
Here are some photos from the second of three skirmishes in this always entertaining Show Me State clash.—
Jeff Rosen,
Kansas City Star,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
In a 2024 study, researchers found that chimpanzee mothers tended to step in to defend their children in quarrels—say, over food or space in a tree—in about half of cases the researchers observed in the wild.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
10 May 2026
-
As the trio quarrels, bonds and ventures through the wild unknown, Felix discovers that true bravery may change not only his own destiny, but also the future of his home.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Both of them suggest the guitarist Loren Connors leading the early roars of Earth, his intuitive way of navigating the instrument’s neck bolstered by a formidable wall of hum at his back.—
Grayson Haver Currin,
Pitchfork,
14 May 2026
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All of that felt like a distant memory on Monday night, when Becerra, now the leading Democrat ahead of the June 2 primary, was met with roars of approval from a hometown crowd of at least 700 people at Sacramento State.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
The pope, played by Samora la Perdida, is a mincing oaf who bickers with Galas about the value of translating Wagner.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brawls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brawls. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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