Synonyms for brawl
Most common
Definitions
- n. 1
A disorderly argument or fight, usually with a large number of people involved.
- n. 2
A dance of French origin dating from the 16th century, performed by couples in a circle or a line; the music for this dance.
Related words
- Word family
- brawler brawling
- Phrases
- bench-clearing brawl
- Other spellings
- branle brantle
Forms
- Plural
- brawls → bashes, scuffles, altercations, fracases…
Choose the right word
Affray, brawl, and broil, like quarrel, are words of inferior dignity. An affray or broil may arise at a street corner; the affray always involves physical force; the brawl or broil may be confined to violent language.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- altercation An altercation broke out between Dan and Linda.
- scuffle Miroslav and Rima had a little scuffle over that.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| brawl | rising | |
| altercation | rising | |
| scuffle | rising | |
| brangle | steady | |
| bransle | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 2 letters
- do1
- 3 letters
- row1
- 4 letters
- riot2, bash1, feud1, spat1, tiff1
- 5 letters
- fight1, clash1
- 6 letters
- uproar2, ruckus2, fracas2, rumpus, affray
- 7 letters
- dispute2, quarrel2, scuffle2, wrangle2, brangle, bransle
- 8 letters
- conflict2, squabble2
- 10 letters
- fisticuffs3
- 11 letters
- controversy4, altercation4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (riot2 = 2 syllables).