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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of brawls
Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
After Fatu cost Rhodes the WWE Championship by first attacking McIntyre—then turning his attention to Cody—Rhodes and Fatu have been involved in pull-apart brawls and most recently an excellent face-to-face segment.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
Investigators aren't saying if there's a connection between Henderson's death and brawls at the bar.
—Ross Guidotti, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
The plastic whistles and the car horns and the street brawls and the neighborhoods emptying into streets — the whole communities playing immovable rock to unstoppable federal force.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
Drunken brawls, some murders, a few disappearances and ghost sightings were reported along its main drag.
—Kalpana Mohan, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
In California, the list could also include regular political brawls over tax laws.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 1 Dec. 2025
The video then shifts abruptly to tense music and video clips of bare feet swiping on an in-flight monitor and then a series of brawls on flights.
—Kristin Wright, NPR, 23 Nov. 2025
The film followed Chan Lok-kwun (Raymond Lam), a mainland refugee trying to pay his way to a fake ID by winning bare-knuckle brawls.
—Marcus Lim, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
So popular were the show's brawls that Springer's head of security, Steve Wilkos, became a celebrity unto himself, resulting in his own talk show that's currently in its 19th season.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
After Fatu cost Rhodes the WWE Championship by first attacking McIntyre—then turning his attention to Cody—Rhodes and Fatu have been involved in pull-apart brawls and most recently an excellent face-to-face segment.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
Investigators aren't saying if there's a connection between Henderson's death and brawls at the bar.
—Ross Guidotti, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
The plastic whistles and the car horns and the street brawls and the neighborhoods emptying into streets — the whole communities playing immovable rock to unstoppable federal force.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
Drunken brawls, some murders, a few disappearances and ghost sightings were reported along its main drag.
—Kalpana Mohan, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
In California, the list could also include regular political brawls over tax laws.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 1 Dec. 2025
The video then shifts abruptly to tense music and video clips of bare feet swiping on an in-flight monitor and then a series of brawls on flights.
—Kristin Wright, NPR, 23 Nov. 2025
The film followed Chan Lok-kwun (Raymond Lam), a mainland refugee trying to pay his way to a fake ID by winning bare-knuckle brawls.
—Marcus Lim, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
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
-
And Eat Street was the scene of a series of clashes, before federal officers and local and state police pulled back and protesters took over the area.—
Jack Brook,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Considered to be one of the earliest TV villains, the reality television alum was known for his lack of personal hygiene, as well as his frequent clashes with fellow housemates.—
Nicholas Rice,
PEOPLE,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Although government officials have claimed that Good and Pretti were both aggressors in their altercations, footage captured by bystanders appeared to contradict those claims.—
Malia Mendez,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
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Agents themselves are pulling out their phones during altercations with protesters.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Evidence from the crime scene supports the theory that Kernodle heard concerning noises on the night of the murders and made her way up to Mogen's bedroom to investigate the situation.—
Chris Spargo,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
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The animal, Najera said, had learned that the flashing lights and loud noises were not actually dangerous.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The National Immigration Law Center fights in courts and legislatures to protect low-income immigrants, ensuring that civil rights don’t disappear simply because of where someone was born.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
On the outskirts of the crowd, fights broke out between protesters and counter-protesters.—
Ruby Cramer,
New Yorker,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
These were not skirmishes but full-scale conflicts, usually costing tens—sometimes hundreds—of thousands of lives.—
Robert Kagan,
The Atlantic,
18 Jan. 2026
-
The tactics of federal immigration agents have come under intense scrutiny after the shooting of Good and growing skirmishes between federal officers and protesters.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Some of the quarrels that divided Minneapolis city leaders only a few weeks ago, over policing or Gaza or the budget, have faded as people have come together to oppose ICE.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Washington’s choice prioritized American independence over European quarrels.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The people want to see Varang’s fierce roars!—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
3 Jan. 2026
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White then nailed a step back 3, drawing more roars, and Jones hit a reverse layup.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Dec. 2025
Verb
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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 1 Feb. 2026.
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