1
as in brawl
a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people
a dozen people were arrested after the donnybrook at the stadium
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in altercation
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
the kind of hot-button issue that inevitably creates a donnybrook in the halls of the statehouse
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of donnybrook
Completing the quartet is Justin Withers’ Demetrius, who unleashes his comic chops during a hilarious donnybrook.
—
Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Saturday’s donnybrook at the Horseshoe may not have scared up the massive numbers that last year’s Ohio State-Michigan showdown delivered, but Fox’s broadcast of the 120th installment of The Game still ranks as the college football season’s second-biggest TV draw.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 4 Dec. 2024
Once, according to a story pitcher George Brunet told Sports Illustrated, a manager’s argument with an umpire turned into an all-out donnybrook involving players and fans and photographers and reporters, too.
—Rustin Dodd, The Athletic, 26 Aug. 2024
But money has settled previous donnybrooks over new technologies.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for donnybrook
Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Saturday’s donnybrook at the Horseshoe may not have scared up the massive numbers that last year’s Ohio State-Michigan showdown delivered, but Fox’s broadcast of the 120th installment of The Game still ranks as the college football season’s second-biggest TV draw.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 4 Dec. 2024
Once, according to a story pitcher George Brunet told Sports Illustrated, a manager’s argument with an umpire turned into an all-out donnybrook involving players and fans and photographers and reporters, too.
—Rustin Dodd, The Athletic, 26 Aug. 2024
But money has settled previous donnybrooks over new technologies.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for donnybrook
Recent Examples of Synonyms for donnybrook
Noun
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During the brawl, a 23-year-old man was stabbed in the armpit with a sharp object, cops said.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
21 Feb. 2026
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Some of those arrested had acknowledged involvement in the brawl but all denied intending to kill Deranque, according to Lyon prosecutor Thierry Dran.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Dorgan had attended other hockey games without issue, and there’s no evidence so far that an altercation had occurred at the rink before the killings.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
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In the early hours of Tuesday morning, the Transformers actor was arrested in New Orleans after an alleged physical altercation outside of a Royal Street business.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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When disputes arise, most can be kept behind closed doors.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The top pros were held out of the last two Winter Olympics, in 2018 over a dispute between the players and the IOC, and in 2022 because of COVID-19 interruptions in scheduling.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The victim was stabbed multiple times in the back as the quarrel escalated, police said.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
11 Feb. 2026
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This time, the quarrel between state and Hamilton County leaders is about language, slipped into a lengthy bill, that would nullify rental cap ordinances.—
Jake Allen,
IndyStar,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The San Francisco native has been surrounded by controversy for many years, with global scrutiny and media coverage reaching a fever pitch during her 2022 Olympics debut in Beijing.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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Last year’s festival, the first under Tuttle’s leadership, was largely free of such controversies.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Kramer and Fauci—their honorable disagreements, their curiosity about each other’s worldview, their good-faith debate—were the real show, all along.—
Talya Zax,
The Atlantic,
21 Feb. 2026
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After a disagreement with his team, Gabriel jumped off his raft and swam to shore, according to his parents.—
Outside,
Outside,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The couple joined the fight and decided a baby would have to wait.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
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Cannon, the man who coined the phrase fight or flight, measured various ways in which the nervous system will reroute to cope with an emergency.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The jury in Kaley’s case hasn’t yet heard the full arguments from Meta and YouTube’s lawyers, who are expected to take their turn in the coming weeks.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
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Police say that Myers and Kevin then got into an argument, prompting Tatmon to punch Kevin and draw his pistol.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Donnybrook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/donnybrook. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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