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
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Recent Examples of brawls
Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
They were called after multiple brawls involving as many as 100 people, most of whom were juveniles, broke out at the park.
—Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 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
The change had come following years of youth disturbances, including major brawls and nearby shootings.
—Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
Viral videos of onboard brawls contributed to the airline’s notoriety.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
They were called after multiple brawls involving as many as 100 people, most of whom were juveniles, broke out at the park.
—Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 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
The change had come following years of youth disturbances, including major brawls and nearby shootings.
—Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 8 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 most recent back-and-forth over talks comes after a week of sporadic clashes in the Persian Gulf, amid a month-long ceasefire.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
-
Meanwhile, small-scale clashes continued around the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, underscoring the fragility of the ceasefire between Iran and the United States.—
James LaPorta,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Paul and Mortensen had been under investigation by both the Draper City Police Department and West Jordan Police Department regarding a series of allegations each made that the other had acted violently during altercations in February, as well as an incident that took place in 2024.—
Senior Television,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
The investigations stemmed from a series of allegations, each made that the other acted violently during a series of altercations that month.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
After the chamber cleared, House clerks pulled them apart, stomped on them and eventually soaked them in water until the noises gradually died.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
Iranian state media also reported loud noises and defensive fire in west Tehran.—
Adam Schreck,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Miller now sits at 28 career UFC wins (most all-time), 48 UFC fights (most all-time), 20 UFC finishes (second only to Charles Oliveira), and 16 post-fight bonuses (tied for third with Nate Diaz, behind only Donald Cerrone).—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
-
The winter stretched before us with dinner parties to host, movies to go to, and fights to be had with my father about this and that.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
The game was delayed with just under six minutes on the clock after several skirmishes broke out, leading to the ejections of Seals captain Wes Berg and Toronto’s Elijah Gash.—
Ivan Carter,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 May 2026
-
The early skirmishes certainly appeared that way.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
8 Apr. 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
-
Resident colobus monkeys’ distinctly guttural roars serve as singular natural alarms at daybreak, when an inspired array of adventures await.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 May 2026
-
Locals have heard the roars of F-16s before, when the Air Force’s Thunderbirds performed above downtown Boise in Gowen Thunder Airshow events.—
Hali Smith
April 29,
Idaho Statesman,
29 Apr. 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 13 May. 2026.
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