1
as in clashes
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 altercations
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 noises
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 fights
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
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Recent Examples of brawls
Jonathan Tirone, Bloomberg, 16 Apr. 2026
Other brewhouse brawls happen at Magnanimous Brewing in Tampa (Havoc And Haze) and Walking Tree Brewery in Vero Beach (Rooted In Chaos), often drawing 300 to 500 visitors, CCW co-owner Dan Ackerman says.
—Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
While on-ice brawls are nothing new in professional ice hockey, flying fisticuffs have a history in the police and fireman face off from years past.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
The Avs and Stars haven’t had games devolve into all-out brawls like Tampa Bay and Florida have.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
The change had come following years of youth disturbances, including major brawls and nearby shootings.
—Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
There are five consecutive brawls in the final two minutes, including one involving both goalies.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
This is a grand adventure and cracking good mystery awash with gaslighting, brawls, murders, red herrings and a secret society.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
And Escobar recalled how the Royals had a series of brawls with opponents in the 2015 season.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 17 Feb. 2026
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
Malema heads the Economic Freedom Fighters, which advocates for the expropriation of mines, banks and land, and is notorious for starting brawls in parliament.
—Jonathan Tirone, Bloomberg, 16 Apr. 2026
Other brewhouse brawls happen at Magnanimous Brewing in Tampa (Havoc And Haze) and Walking Tree Brewery in Vero Beach (Rooted In Chaos), often drawing 300 to 500 visitors, CCW co-owner Dan Ackerman says.
—Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
While on-ice brawls are nothing new in professional ice hockey, flying fisticuffs have a history in the police and fireman face off from years past.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
The Avs and Stars haven’t had games devolve into all-out brawls like Tampa Bay and Florida have.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
The change had come following years of youth disturbances, including major brawls and nearby shootings.
—Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
There are five consecutive brawls in the final two minutes, including one involving both goalies.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
This is a grand adventure and cracking good mystery awash with gaslighting, brawls, murders, red herrings and a secret society.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
And Escobar recalled how the Royals had a series of brawls with opponents in the 2015 season.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
As the man brawls with his in-laws, the boy is caught between two worlds, of male rage and female subjection.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brawls
Noun
-
Transportation future While most Coloradans want properly maintained roads, Restore Our Roads clashes with voters’ broader wishes, said Matt Frommer, transportation and land use policy manager for the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, an environmental advocacy group.—
Bruce Finley,
Denver Post,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Last year, clashes between farmers and herders in southwestern Chad left 42 people dead and several homes burned.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Though the large parties associated with Spring Weekend were not sanctioned by UConn, the lawsuit contended that university officials knew about the troubles and potential dangers that would ensue based, in part, on previous altercations that had occurred.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Gardner’s style of play irritated plenty of opponents along the way, too, as he was involved in a few verbal altercations throughout the season with players like Klay Thompson and Scotty Pippen Jr.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The first clip showed Duff making cat and bird noises as Townes, who turns 2 on May 3, played with her hair and smiled at the camera.—
Kirsty Hatcher,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Plus sundry hallucinations, bad dreams, possession, dark spaces, creepy noises, fraught family relations — and, as with so many horror stories, a bad thing in the past bringing down the future.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Ever since, fans have been hooked to see how the friend group navigate fights big and small.—
Colleen Kratofil,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The 31-year-old McKee (24-2), who fights out of Long Beach, continues his pursuit to reclaim his place atop the 145-pound division.—
Brian Martin,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The early skirmishes certainly appeared that way.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The skirmishes are a preview for more campaigns later this year, when at least a half-dozen states will hold elections for utility regulators.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Avoid money quarrels with everyone.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
8 Feb. 2026
-
His quarrels with Massie and interest in relitigating the 2020 election seem to animate him more, too.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
There were no roars of restaurant chatter and excitement from happy guests.—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Most of the time, the creature is invisible, only given away by roars or its footprints in the soil of this extra-terrestrial world.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The pope, played by Samora la Perdida, is a mincing oaf who bickers with Galas about the value of translating Wagner.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brawls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brawls. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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