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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of melee
Roughly 150 law enforcers were injured in the melee.
—
Ian Swanson, The Hill, 10 June 2025
Two road rage melees in the city have led to charges for a woman who’s accused of stabbing a scooter rider, and a man allegedly using a hatchet to smash a windshield.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 5 June 2025
What follows is a melee of pratfalls and freak-outs, a guffaw-worthy display by such a fine group of actors.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 21 May 2025
Fox said Ogletree, 36, was protecting others who were involved in the melee.
—Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for melee
Ian Swanson, The Hill, 10 June 2025
Two road rage melees in the city have led to charges for a woman who’s accused of stabbing a scooter rider, and a man allegedly using a hatchet to smash a windshield.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 5 June 2025
What follows is a melee of pratfalls and freak-outs, a guffaw-worthy display by such a fine group of actors.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 21 May 2025
Fox said Ogletree, 36, was protecting others who were involved in the melee.
—Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for melee
Recent Examples of Synonyms for melee
Noun
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Chelsea's 3-0 FIFA Club World Cup victory over Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday, with President Donald Trump in attendance, was marred by a postgame brawl.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
14 July 2025
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In 2004, the two sides engaged in an ugly brawl with just under six minutes to play.—
David Ubben,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
Noun
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The skirmish left the mother of Jones' child with a black eye.—
Chris Ramirez,
jsonline.com,
18 July 2025
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The skirmish has thrust into the public eye a falling-out between two political heavyweights once seen as close allies.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
16 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Melee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/melee. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
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