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
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
The donnybrook between Disney and Ron DeSantis keeps escalating, and what should be a dispute over corporate welfare has devolved into an unfortunate political brawl that both could lose.
—The Editorial Board, wsj.com, 27 Apr. 2023
There were, however, the makings of a donnybrook.
—Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2022
See All Example Sentences for donnybrook
Rustin Dodd, The Athletic, 26 Aug. 2024
But money has settled previous donnybrooks over new technologies.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2024
The donnybrook between Disney and Ron DeSantis keeps escalating, and what should be a dispute over corporate welfare has devolved into an unfortunate political brawl that both could lose.
—The Editorial Board, wsj.com, 27 Apr. 2023
There were, however, the makings of a donnybrook.
—Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2022
See All Example Sentences for donnybrook
Recent Examples of Synonyms for donnybrook
Noun
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If a person tears off someone’s ear or nose in a bar brawl, jail time is almost certain.—
Laura A. Bischoff,
The Enquirer,
4 July 2025
-
There's much to consider about this hypothetical brawl.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Noun
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At Monday’s arraignment, when prosecutors revealed the details of the altercation, a judge ordered Horsman to be held without bail.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
30 June 2025
-
In a now-viral recording of the altercation posted to Reddit, Perry is seen grabbing the other passenger's hair.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
27 June 2025
Noun
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In many ways, the game might offer a blueprint for the quarterfinal clash against Paris Saint-Germain.—
Manuel Veth,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
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Small groups of far-right counter-protesters attempted to disrupt the parade, but police kept them away and diverted the route of the march to avoid any clashes.—
Anita Komuves,
USA Today,
28 June 2025
Noun
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Before the dispute, the Shinawatras and the Huns of Cambodia — two of Southeast Asia’s most influential political dynasties — had enjoyed close personal relations for decades.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
1 July 2025
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The dispute has influenced Paramount’s approach to a lawsuit accusing it of deceptively editing an interview with Kamala Harris.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
30 June 2025
Noun
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The quarrel exploded Thursday, leading to a public back and forth on X, formerly Twitter.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
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This was just one of many quarrels between the two that grew more frequent.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The changes come amid several controversies facing the Texas Lottery in recent years, particularly on the issue of courier purchases.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
25 June 2025
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Red Bull team boss Christian Horner revealed what has changed in Formula 1 over his 20 years in the sport amid the sport's drama and controversies.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
Noun
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Though the talks fell apart over disagreements on what measures North Korea would take toward disarmament and Trump’s reluctance to offer sanctions relief, the summits ended on a surprisingly hopeful note, with the two leaders walking away as pen pals.—
Max Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2025
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For decades, Kahneman and Gary Klein, a psychologist who researches naturalistic decision-making, had a running disagreement about whether human intuition could be trusted.—
Gabriel Snyder,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
Noun
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The result of that fight was Paul's first and only pro loss, dropping a split decision to Fury.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
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Then, in 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that federal courts do not have a role to play in deciding legal fights over partisan gerrymandering, when state's voting lines are drawn to entrench the political party in power.—
June 27,
CBS News,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Donnybrook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/donnybrook. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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