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
The melee stemmed from an apparent altercation outside, per the GBI.
—
Laura Barcella, People.com, 26 Feb. 2025
One of the two men convicted of murdering rap legend Jam Master Jay was stabbed during a melee at a New York City jail over the weekend, according to two sources familiar with the attack.
—Rich Schapiro, NBC News, 25 Feb. 2025
Enhance Captain America's combat experience by separating Sentinel Strike from melee attacks.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025
But a storm battered the peak shortly after Krakauer and others began their descent, and in the ensuing melee eight climbers and guides, including Hall, perished.
—Jayme Moye, Outside Online, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for melee
Laura Barcella, People.com, 26 Feb. 2025
One of the two men convicted of murdering rap legend Jam Master Jay was stabbed during a melee at a New York City jail over the weekend, according to two sources familiar with the attack.
—Rich Schapiro, NBC News, 25 Feb. 2025
Enhance Captain America's combat experience by separating Sentinel Strike from melee attacks.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025
But a storm battered the peak shortly after Krakauer and others began their descent, and in the ensuing melee eight climbers and guides, including Hall, perished.
—Jayme Moye, Outside Online, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for melee
Recent Examples of Synonyms for melee
Noun
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Same for a trip to a country bar, where Chris picks up the dance moves insanely quickly and Brax starts a window-crashing brawl.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
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Behind them, the brawl for the final two play-off places — to join one of the three aforementioned teams and Sunderland — continued to be played out between Middlesbrough, Coventry City, West Bromwich Albion and Bristol City.—
Gregg Evans,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Holy Roman Empire army did eventually move on from the camp, engaging in several skirmishes with the Swedish army stationed nearby.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
18 Apr. 2025
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Today’s group readies to replay the opening battle skirmish, practicing to get their roles down for the upcoming anniversary celebration.—
Melanie Stetson Freeman,
Christian Science Monitor,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Melee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/melee. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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