1
as in clash
a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people
they were thrown out of the party after starting a brawl
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in altercation
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
the student drama society's decision to put on the controversial play prompted a brawl at the school board meeting
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in roar
loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound
we could hear the brawl of the river rapids ahead of us before we could actually see them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to bicker
to express different opinions about something often angrily
the Wilsons were always loudly brawling, and the neighbors were always shutting their windows
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of brawl
Kathleen Magramo, CNN Money, 9 May 2025
Chaos and wild brawls broke out at a New York City university on Thursday evening after pro-Palestinian activists tried setting up an encampment on college grounds.
—Andrea Margolis , Kitty Le Claire, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2025
Katie Mettler, Baltimore Sun, 11 Apr. 2025
Read the interview » J. D. Vance brawls with the Catholic Church.
—Ian Crouch, The New Yorker, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brawl
Noun
Paolo Duterte and his bodyguards were recently embroiled in a nightclub brawl, prompting a businessman to file a complaint against him.
—Kathleen Magramo, CNN Money, 9 May 2025
Chaos and wild brawls broke out at a New York City university on Thursday evening after pro-Palestinian activists tried setting up an encampment on college grounds.
—Andrea Margolis , Kitty Le Claire, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2025
Verb
The troubles escalated in 2023, when patients brawled, a patient was raped by his roommate and another patient died under suspicious circumstances.
—Katie Mettler, Baltimore Sun, 11 Apr. 2025
Read the interview » J. D. Vance brawls with the Catholic Church.
—Ian Crouch, The New Yorker, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brawl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brawl
Noun
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Trump tests legal strategies as judges block his policies As the clash becomes a defining moment in the president's second term, conservative activists are pushing Congress to rein in federal judges and pressing Trump to intensify his fight with the courts.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
26 May 2025
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The clash between Villaraigosa’s environmentalist credentials and oil-industry ties surfaced in the governor’s race after Valero announced in late April that its Bay Area refinery would close next year, not long after Phillips 66 said its Wilmington refinery would close in 2025.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2025
Noun
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Jaques said officers at 7:49 a.m. on Sunday received a complaint from a woman who reported that someone was following her vehicle while waving a gun following an altercation at a local gas station.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
27 May 2025
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Initial data provided by the department suggest that practicing the martial art not only helps boost officers' physical and mental health, but also enables cops to use less force during an arrest or altercation.—
Katja Ridderbusch,
NPR,
26 May 2025
Noun
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The crowd, which had already grown hostile to Ernst's tone, erupted in roars of disapproval.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
31 May 2025
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There’s something magical about a waterfall — the roar of rushing water fueled by snowmelt, the cooling mist, and lush vegetation thriving around it.—
Jennifer Broome,
Denver Post,
20 May 2025
Verb
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In the film, Lawrence and her co-star Robert Pattinson proved worthy adversaries, who bicker and screw their way into emotional oblivion in Ramsay’s tense portrait of a woman undone.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
17 May 2025
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Protesters shouted from the back of the room and lawmakers bickered.—
Eric Lipton,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
Noun
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The incident outside the detention center resulted in a melee and ended with the Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a Democrat who is also running for New Jersey governor, getting arrested.—
Luke Barr,
ABC News,
14 May 2025
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The Fix Kit, meanwhile, comes equipped with a massive wrench that doubles as a damaging melee weapon and a tool used to fix machinery.—
Jason Fanelli,
Rolling Stone,
14 May 2025
Noun
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Lee-Gardner became involved in the dispute and is accused of hitting the homeowner in her head with a pistol.—
Mike Stunson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 May 2025
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This dispute is one of several signs revealing a worsening relationship between the two leaders, reflecting broader disagreements on Iran, regional conflicts, economic policy, and diplomatic priorities.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
Noun
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Things are going to get crazy, eliminate the noise.—
Tim Willert,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2025
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From the Guentzel, Burns and (both) Rantanen trades, to the signing of Orlov and the blockbuster deal that started it all — Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin to Calgary for Dougie Hamilton, Micheal Ferland and Adam Fox — Carolina isn’t afraid to make noise.—
Cory Lavalette,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Verb
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Moving to Italy was a big jump and then moving here was another big jump: from Serie B to a big club that fights in European competition.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
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The current plan would lift the SALT cap from $10,000 to $30,000, but a handful of blue-state Republicans have been fighting to raise the cap higher.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
21 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brawl. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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