1
as in skirmish
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
the police broke up the fracas in the bar and threw both combatants in the lockup
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2
as in brawl
a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people
police preparing for any fracas that might follow the soccer game
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fracas
The European leg this summer was bookended by developments in a case relating to a 2023 London club fracas in which Brown allegedly assaulted a music producer.
—
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
What started as a war of words quickly evolved into a bench-clearing fracas.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 28 Sep. 2025
Her willingness, the atmosphere of fracas, her feeling of doom, of having made the wrong decision, had propelled her under the trees.
—Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Sergio Busquets, who hit Vargas in the face during the fracas, and Tomas Aviles, who swung at Sounders players, both got bans and fines from the tournament but were not punished by MLS.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fracas
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
What started as a war of words quickly evolved into a bench-clearing fracas.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 28 Sep. 2025
Her willingness, the atmosphere of fracas, her feeling of doom, of having made the wrong decision, had propelled her under the trees.
—Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Sergio Busquets, who hit Vargas in the face during the fracas, and Tomas Aviles, who swung at Sounders players, both got bans and fines from the tournament but were not punished by MLS.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fracas
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fracas
Noun
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Amazon Prime commentator Kirk Herbstreit said as a guess at Rodgers' response to Jones, as footage of the sideline near-skirmish played for viewers.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
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Why This Hurts More Than Before US-China trade tensions aren’t just another tariff skirmish.—
Vitalii Savryha,
Sourcing Journal,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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These brawls further eroded democratic norms, while driving voters away from left-wing and moderate parties who seemed helpless to halt them.—
Time,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
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Of the many people involved in the brawl, only Iverson and three other Black men were convicted.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The clash occurs more so on the stylistic side and acclimatising to Villa’s methods.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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Fundraisers for the victims of devil attacks, apparently a common occurrence in this reality, acknowledge the death toll that these supernatural clashes leave behind.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Packers owned a 22-19 lead in the fourth quarter when Steelers linebacker Nick Niemann was flagged for instigating an altercation.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
27 Oct. 2025
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Other behaviors that commonly cause altercations during flights include shouting, consuming excessive amounts of alcohol, and reclining your seat without consideration for the person sitting behind.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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As soon as a battle or a war has been fought, victors and losers alike begin to tell different stories.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
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Linked by the fire, a cashier, fire-fighter, district attorney and student battle to prevent tragedy, the blaze’s consequences still roiling two decades later.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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When police arrived, however, there was no sign of any fight or crime scene.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
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In his eight wins, all eight have come inside the distance, with only two fights seeing a second round.—
Brett Appley,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Sunday, following a scuffle that escalated into gunfire, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.—
Joshua Rhett Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
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The pair—who were both heavily intoxicated, the auction house says—wound up in a scuffle in which Lennon lost his glasses.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Prior to the dustups with NBCU and TelevisaUnivision, YouTube TV had nearly blacked out Paramount and Fox networks, reaching deals with both media companies after tensions spilled into public view.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
30 Sep. 2025
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And the headline bombshells continue in the who-did-what-when mortgage dustups.—
Susan Tompor,
USA Today,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fracas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fracas. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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