1
as in skirmish
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
the police broke up the fracas in the bar and threw both combatants in the lockup
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in brawl
a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people
police preparing for any fracas that might follow the soccer game
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fracas
Following an intense midgame fracas with the Detroit Pistons on Monday, two critical Timberwolves contributors will serve out their single-game suspensions against Denver.
—
Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
There have been intense moments, big games, and even a fracas.
—Tony East, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
When adults who spotted the fracas intervened to break up the fight, a 37-year-old man was slashed in the lower back.
—Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2025
He got involved in a subway fracas that left a bad cop dead amid hints of police corruption.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fracas
Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
There have been intense moments, big games, and even a fracas.
—Tony East, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
When adults who spotted the fracas intervened to break up the fight, a 37-year-old man was slashed in the lower back.
—Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2025
He got involved in a subway fracas that left a bad cop dead amid hints of police corruption.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fracas
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fracas
Noun
-
Nuñez warned that more skirmishes could occur on Sunday as PSG will parade on the Champs-Élysées before celebrating the title with their fans at the Parc des Princes stadium.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
1 June 2025
-
Thailand and Cambodia have a long history of land disputes, though Thailand said after the short skirmish that the situation had been resolved.—
DAVID RISING,
Arkansas Online,
31 May 2025
Noun
-
Authorities attempted to limit the violence on the Seaside Heights boardwalk over the holiday weekend by imposing a 10 p.m. curfew on unaccompanied minors, but the brawls continued anyway, WABC reported.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
26 May 2025
-
No one could agree on whether the brawl of as many as nine young men was limited to fists or if its participants were also kicking and stomping.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 May 2025
Noun
-
This clash has had tangible repercussions: Tesla’s stock experienced a significant drop, erasing over $150 billion in market value, while Trump Media saw a decline of approximately $500 million.—
Brent Gleeson,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
-
Boys lacrosse In a wild Div. 4 round of 16 clash, host Littleton received a goal from Zach Milner with five seconds remaining to list the Tigers to a thrilling 13-12 victory over host Lynnfield.—
Brian Roach,
Boston Herald,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
Jaques said officers at 7:49 a.m. on Sunday received a complaint from a woman who reported that someone was following her vehicle while waving a gun following an altercation at a local gas station.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
27 May 2025
-
Initial data provided by the department suggest that practicing the martial art not only helps boost officers' physical and mental health, but also enables cops to use less force during an arrest or altercation.—
Katja Ridderbusch,
NPR,
26 May 2025
Noun
-
Fires and recovery Crews battle fire burning in Pala, evacuations underway in northern San Diego County.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2025
-
Recently, a German court quietly ended a landmark legal battle that had spanned nearly a decade.—
Monica Sanders,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
Noun
-
Fernandez’s defense attorney said a fight had broken out, and the dad ran across the street to check it out when his son ran after him and was hit.—
Olivia Lloyd,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2025
-
Without a leader and facing a fight over its budget, NASA faces an uncertain future, both in the months ahead and longer term.—
Wendy Whitman Cobb,
The Conversation,
3 June 2025
Noun
-
But as the boy and his friends exited a walkway near the schoolyard a rival not involved in the earlier dustup ran up and punched the shooter in the face.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2025
-
The position dustups have also exposed Devers’ first instinct to be inwardly focused.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fracas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fracas. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share