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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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David Wolf, the executive director of the Legacy of the Plains Museum in Scottsbluff, said experts estimate that as many 10 people died for every mile of the trail ‒ perhaps as many as 20,000 travelers, plus an unknown number of Native Americans killed during skirmishes.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
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The skirmish brought players from both teams out of the dugouts and out of the bullpens.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The match ended in a double count-out, but The Vision maintained the upper hand in the ensuing brawl.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
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The videos of the brawl that went viral concerned Culbertson.—
Scott Wartman,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Much of this strife, including throughout the 1967-1970 civil war and subsequent clashes over the decades, has also been closely tied to feuds across ethnic and territorial lines.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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Pfizer and Novo Nordisk are in a takeover clash over the obesity biotech Metsera, with both pharmaceutical giants raising their bids for the startup as of Monday.—
Annika Kim Constantino,Bertha Coombs,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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In 2017, Charles, who played for the New York Knicks from 1988 to 1998, was asked to leave the arena after an altercation with a security guard.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
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After the teens exited the vehicle, a physical altercation ensued.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The Davidson Wildcats’ men’s basketball team hunted the three-ball early and often in the 40th edition of the battle for the Hornets’ Nest, connecting frequently on the way to a 62-55 victory over the Charlotte 49ers on Tuesday night.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Nov. 2025
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In a battle of NFC behemoths, the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles (7-2) escaped Green Bay with a 10-7 win.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The impact of losing enhanced premium subsidies The political fight around enhanced subsidies, which were enacted in 2021 under the Biden administration, is playing out during the ACA marketplace's open enrollment, when would-be enrollees are picking their health plans for 2026.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
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The fights are being broadcast on DAZN pay-per-view.—
Jim Barnes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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There was yelling, people falling, and some who appeared to get hurt in the scuffle, Lee said.—
Nicquel Terry Ellis,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
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Their scuffle escalated — with Banegas holding a Glock pistol and, later, pulling the trigger.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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This dustup likely means that some of the nation’s most vulnerable will end up going hungry, at least temporarily.—
Nicholas Florko,
The Atlantic,
4 Nov. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Fracas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fracas. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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