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
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 brawls
Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 17 Feb. 2026
Madison Square Garden has issued a statement warning that anyone fighting at the arena could face a lifetime ban after multiple brawls broke out during an event on Friday.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2026
So popular were the show's brawls that Springer's head of security, Steve Wilkos, became a celebrity unto himself, resulting in his own talk show that's currently in its 19th season.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
After Fatu cost Rhodes the WWE Championship by first attacking McIntyre—then turning his attention to Cody—Rhodes and Fatu have been involved in pull-apart brawls and most recently an excellent face-to-face segment.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
Investigators aren't saying if there's a connection between Henderson's death and brawls at the bar.
—Ross Guidotti, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
The plastic whistles and the car horns and the street brawls and the neighborhoods emptying into streets — the whole communities playing immovable rock to unstoppable federal force.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
Drunken brawls, some murders, a few disappearances and ghost sightings were reported along its main drag.
—Kalpana Mohan, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
In California, the list could also include regular political brawls over tax laws.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 1 Dec. 2025
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
And Escobar recalled how the Royals had a series of brawls with opponents in the 2015 season.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 17 Feb. 2026
Madison Square Garden has issued a statement warning that anyone fighting at the arena could face a lifetime ban after multiple brawls broke out during an event on Friday.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2026
So popular were the show's brawls that Springer's head of security, Steve Wilkos, became a celebrity unto himself, resulting in his own talk show that's currently in its 19th season.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
After Fatu cost Rhodes the WWE Championship by first attacking McIntyre—then turning his attention to Cody—Rhodes and Fatu have been involved in pull-apart brawls and most recently an excellent face-to-face segment.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
Investigators aren't saying if there's a connection between Henderson's death and brawls at the bar.
—Ross Guidotti, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
The plastic whistles and the car horns and the street brawls and the neighborhoods emptying into streets — the whole communities playing immovable rock to unstoppable federal force.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
Drunken brawls, some murders, a few disappearances and ghost sightings were reported along its main drag.
—Kalpana Mohan, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
In California, the list could also include regular political brawls over tax laws.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 1 Dec. 2025
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
-
Elizabeth was principled and compassionate while Jessica was carefree, outgoing and manipulative, and their clashes and crushes became a welcome distraction.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
In central states, climate change has sharpened competition over land and water, intensifying clashes between farmers and herders.—
Yusuf Tuggar,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The lawsuit claims that Metcalf had a history of being involved in altercations and alleges that Ford Field should have known about Metcalf's history and failed to protect Kennedy.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Clark warned him against becoming involved in any physical altercations.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Anxiety about school and loud noises.—
Jozsef Papp,
AJC.com,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Deputies heard loud noises and screaming from outside a nearby home and went into its backyard and saw a man being attacked by the two large dogs.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The case sparked a political scandal last year that led to the ouster of Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, and fueled new public anger at lingering corruption as Ukraine fights Russia in its four-year war.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The move comes as the administration simultaneously fights offshore wind projects in the Northeast, some of which are fully permitted or under construction.—
Garrett Downs,
CNBC,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
And while his 11 years with the Yankees were often marked with verbal skirmishes with George Steinbrenner, in 1982 the Boss showed his respect for Nettles’ baseball acumen and quiet clubhouse leadership to name him the first Yankee captain since Thurman Munson’s death in 1979.—
Bill Madden,
New York Daily News,
31 Jan. 2026
-
These were not skirmishes but full-scale conflicts, usually costing tens—sometimes hundreds—of thousands of lives.—
Robert Kagan,
The Atlantic,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Avoid money quarrels with everyone.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
8 Feb. 2026
-
His quarrels with Massie and interest in relitigating the 2020 election seem to animate him more, too.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The stillness and calm feel comparable to being out in nature, far removed from the roars of automobile engines and the hustle and bustle of everyday life.—
Michael Salerno,
AZCentral.com,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Doncic had 24 points, six rebounds and five assists, including a no-look pass to Deandre Ayton for a dunk, while James had 25 points, seven assists and several dunks that the fans seemed to appreciate from their roars.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 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 22 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
