variants
or British fracas
1
as in skirmishes
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in brawls
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 fracases
Blue Devils coach Jon Scheyer said a staff member was punched during the on-court fracas.
—
Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 10 Feb. 2026
Bridges didn’t like what Duren did and pointed at him, sparking another fracas when Stewart, who wasn’t even in the game, came off the bench and confronted Bridges, prompting Bridges to tackle him like a linebacker.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 10 Feb. 2026
At one point, Waugh returned to the room, grabbed a homemade handgun and returned to the fracas.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 2 Feb. 2026
Players and coaches from both teams quickly joined the fracas to try and separate Dort and Fears.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Perhaps the latest fracas over a 2024 climate, parks and environmental bond will offer a useful lesson for coming elections.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
Red state governors, too, have joined the burgeoning fracas.
—Dominik Dausch, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 28 Jan. 2026
Inside a classroom, several dozen people ranging in age from 14 to about 70 faced off against three trainers playing ICE agents, in a loud fracas that lasted several minutes.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
Balboa Park – and this is not going to be about the pay-for-parking fracas – boasts many iconic buildings, and among them is the San Diego Museum of Art with its Spanish Colonial Revival façade.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 10 Feb. 2026
Bridges didn’t like what Duren did and pointed at him, sparking another fracas when Stewart, who wasn’t even in the game, came off the bench and confronted Bridges, prompting Bridges to tackle him like a linebacker.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 10 Feb. 2026
At one point, Waugh returned to the room, grabbed a homemade handgun and returned to the fracas.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 2 Feb. 2026
Players and coaches from both teams quickly joined the fracas to try and separate Dort and Fears.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Perhaps the latest fracas over a 2024 climate, parks and environmental bond will offer a useful lesson for coming elections.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
Red state governors, too, have joined the burgeoning fracas.
—Dominik Dausch, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 28 Jan. 2026
Inside a classroom, several dozen people ranging in age from 14 to about 70 faced off against three trainers playing ICE agents, in a loud fracas that lasted several minutes.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
Balboa Park – and this is not going to be about the pay-for-parking fracas – boasts many iconic buildings, and among them is the San Diego Museum of Art with its Spanish Colonial Revival façade.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fracases
Noun
-
And while his 11 years with the Yankees were often marked with verbal skirmishes with George Steinbrenner, in 1982 the Boss showed his respect for Nettles’ baseball acumen and quiet clubhouse leadership to name him the first Yankee captain since Thurman Munson’s death in 1979.—
Bill Madden,
New York Daily News,
31 Jan. 2026
-
These were not skirmishes but full-scale conflicts, usually costing tens—sometimes hundreds—of thousands of lives.—
Robert Kagan,
The Atlantic,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Madison Square Garden has issued a statement warning that anyone fighting at the arena could face a lifetime ban after multiple brawls broke out during an event on Friday.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
31 Jan. 2026
-
So popular were the show's brawls that Springer's head of security, Steve Wilkos, became a celebrity unto himself, resulting in his own talk show that's currently in its 19th season.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Elizabeth was principled and compassionate while Jessica was carefree, outgoing and manipulative, and their clashes and crushes became a welcome distraction.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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In central states, climate change has sharpened competition over land and water, intensifying clashes between farmers and herders.—
Yusuf Tuggar,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The lawsuit claims that Metcalf had a history of being involved in altercations and alleges that Ford Field should have known about Metcalf's history and failed to protect Kennedy.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Clark warned him against becoming involved in any physical altercations.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
That set off a flurry of court briefs, legal fights and public protests calling for Torres’s release.—
Gregory Royal Pratt,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The dominant force in big tech has shifted from online censorship fights, which sharpened questions about platforms’ size and reach, to AI urgency, where the industry and the White House are more aligned.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The series of legal battles and a looming referendum take aim at an unprecedented special session in which lawmakers redrew the state’s congressional districts.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Almost fifty years ahead of the battles of World War II, the Marquis de Morès had faced death in order to avoid handing Africa over to the British and the Jews.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fracases.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fracases. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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