Synonyms of melee

melee

noun

ˈmā-ˌlā 

as in brawl

a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people

a verbal disagreement at the football game soon turned into a general melee involving scores of spectators

Synonyms & Similar Words

• brawl
• altercation
• clash
• skirmish
• affray
• fracas
• rough-and-tumble
• ruckus
• row
• fray
• broil
• scuffle
• ruction
• free-for-all
• fisticuffs
• combat
• donnybrook
• tussle
• battle
• scrimmage
• quarrel
• horseplay
• conflict
• argument
• dispute
• spat
• contest
• struggle
• tiff
• squabble
• roughhousing
• scrap
• wrangle
• handgrips
• hassle
• kickup

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of melee

Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala was suspended three matches and fined $30,000 for his involvement in the melee. — Michelle Kaufman august 21, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

In stoppage time, a Marcelo foul on Cesc Fabregas sparked a touchline melee, during which Mourinho poked then-Barca assistant coach Tito Vilanova in the eye. — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Franks reached the goal line, leapt in the air, trapped the pass to his chest and got pummeled by the Jaguars linebacker in coverage — he was crushed to the point his helmet flew off in the melee. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026

In the melee the Koh-i-Noor was smuggled to the Persian general Ahmad Khan Abdali by a devoted harem member. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026

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