as in fisticuffs
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Recent Examples of fistfight
In a Senate hearing, in 2023, Mullin challenged the Teamsters president, Sean O’Brien, who was giving testimony, to a fistfight.
—
Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
When a screaming match nearly ended in a fistfight—the director was famously into drugs, booze, and gambling at the time—Toberoff quit.
—Tom Dotan, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
The film, which screened at the Cannes Film Festival, shows LaBeouf berating actors and crew members, instigating a fistfight and engaging in other aggressive behavior.
—Michaela Zee, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
The confrontation turned into a fistfight, and as her daughter was walking back into their house, someone shot her in the back.
—Joy Benedict, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fistfight
Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
When a screaming match nearly ended in a fistfight—the director was famously into drugs, booze, and gambling at the time—Toberoff quit.
—Tom Dotan, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
The film, which screened at the Cannes Film Festival, shows LaBeouf berating actors and crew members, instigating a fistfight and engaging in other aggressive behavior.
—Michaela Zee, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
The confrontation turned into a fistfight, and as her daughter was walking back into their house, someone shot her in the back.
—Joy Benedict, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fistfight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fistfight
Noun
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The Yankees started their slugfest in style against the Rays, as Judge’s big fly traveled 429 feet to the batter’s eye at Steinbrenner Field.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
20 Aug. 2025
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Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, Jack Westover Notes: It’s been a slow, ugly slugfest among the backup tight ends to see who can win the No. 3 job.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
9 Aug. 2025
Noun
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But the hyper-specificity and confrontation on these albums form real connection, creating the feeling that the listener is being trusted with someone else’s secrets and struggles — and safe to embrace their own, too.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
2 May 2026
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In dispatch audio obtained by the outlet, a woman caller says a Black man in his 30s shot at her vehicle after a brief confrontation.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
Noun
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The Russian military appears to be losing some ground in Ukraine, contrary to claims by Moscow’s top brass; Ukrainian strikes are delivering damaging blows to vital Russian oil and gas infrastructure; and drone strikes by Kyiv have disrupted life in the Russian capital before.—
Nathan Hodge,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
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And Minnesota didn’t absorb or respond to the blows.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The vibe and verve are like Scott Pilgrim vs. the World meets Repo Man, but the material needed an extra punch-up at script stage.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Feb. 2026
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But comics depend on feedback – punch-ups from fellow comedians and reactions from audiences – iterating jokes in the same way lean startups may innovate new products.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Karlsson joined Muse and Crosby in his amazement after being sent off despite little to do with the melee.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
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There was a bunch of melees on the ice today.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Engage in precise sword duels and stealthy takedowns.—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
1 May 2026
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The civil trial, taking place in San Francisco, pits two of tech’s most powerful egos against each other in a duel for control over the broader AI ecosystem.—
Joe Wilkins,
Futurism,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Naz Reid nearly escalated the exchange into a brawl, but the parties were ultimately separated enough to avoid ejections.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
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Guns are loaded, a brawl breaks out in a bar and Rip rides away from a fire on horseback.—
Brayden Garcia
May 1,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 May 2026
Noun
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Most people aren’t focused on Advent calendars right now — those chocolates hidden under perforated punch-outs to celebrate each day of the season.—
Kevin Williams,
CNBC,
28 Mar. 2026
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During the portion of Thursday’s practice open to reporters, the Patriots practiced punch-out drills directly in front of reporters.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
22 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fistfight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fistfight. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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