as in commotion
informal + usually disapproving
great excitement or concern about something
A brouhaha erupted over her statements about the president.
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Recent Examples of brouhaha
Troy threatened in the top of the ninth, scoring its only run on a Darnell single to right field, but the game ended moments later on the double play and ensuing brouhaha at second base.
—
Mitch Light, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Following the brouhaha around whether art should be divorced from politics at the Berlinale, the organizers of the 8th Joburg Film Festival at Tuesday night’s opener were adamant that all voices and viewpoints are welcome, noting that African filmmaking is inherently political.
—Thinus Ferreira, Variety, 4 Mar. 2026
Six other South Alabama players were ejected for leaving the bench during the brouhaha.
—Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 4 Mar. 2026
To date, the biggest brouhaha over Unlimited-only content might have come during the Australian Open, when top courts could only be viewed by Unlimited subscribers outside of linear coverage, while ESPN+ retained coverage of lesser matches, in a change from previous years.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brouhaha
Mitch Light, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Following the brouhaha around whether art should be divorced from politics at the Berlinale, the organizers of the 8th Joburg Film Festival at Tuesday night’s opener were adamant that all voices and viewpoints are welcome, noting that African filmmaking is inherently political.
—Thinus Ferreira, Variety, 4 Mar. 2026
Six other South Alabama players were ejected for leaving the bench during the brouhaha.
—Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 4 Mar. 2026
To date, the biggest brouhaha over Unlimited-only content might have come during the Australian Open, when top courts could only be viewed by Unlimited subscribers outside of linear coverage, while ESPN+ retained coverage of lesser matches, in a change from previous years.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brouhaha
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brouhaha
Noun
-
Linderbaum, a Pro Bowl selection in each of the past three seasons, signed a three-year, $81 million deal with the Raiders at the start of free agency, which added additional intrigue to the commotion surrounding Baltimore’s abandonment of the Crosby trade.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Could hear what sounded like gunshots or commotion.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
White-Jacket did cause a stir with its discussion of the arbitrary and cruel use of flogging in the US Navy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Remove the foil and give the orzo another good stir, then bake uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes more, until the orzo is tender and creamy.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For now, Buttigieg has chosen to wait out the tempests in Traverse City, the hometown of his husband, Chasten, a former schoolteacher.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
-
What started as a joyous snowball fight Monday in New York City morphed into a political tempest after residents began pelting police officers with snow and ice.—
Tim Craig,
Washington Post,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The flight cuts come after the Federal Aviation Administration brought the hammer down on the flying frenzy at Chicago’s largest airport last month.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
The musical, brimming over with Broadway in-jokes and phallic humor, doesn’t build so much as whip itself into a frenzy.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Game 6 strips away everything the Lakers had in Game 5 — home court, two days of rest (and stew over a blowout loss) and control of the series.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
-
Next up is the chief stew, a stunningly attractive redheaded woman with a face frozen somewhere between fury and disdain.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
The likelihood of lightning increases as a thunderstorm gets closer and reaches its highest point when the storm is directly overhead.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Some storms could produce hail larger than 3 inches in diameter, especially with stronger rotating cells.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brouhaha.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brouhaha. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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