as in brawl
a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people
the police had to break up an affray that started between fans of the opposing teams
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 affray
Charges include minor in possession of alcohol, destruction of property, drinking in public, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, assault and battery, disturbing the peace, affray and disorderly, and assault and battery on police officers, Boyle said.
—
Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 17 Mar. 2025
The two men were arrested on suspicion of assault, assault of an emergency worker, affray (fighting in public), and obstructing police.
—Reuters, NBC News, 25 July 2024
That simple affray charge was dismissed on April 22, according to court records.
—Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 8 June 2024
Although Stokes was fully acquitted of affray, the incident had a deep effect on him and was a stop-the-clock moment in his career.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for affray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affray
Noun
-
Four deputies suffered minor injuries while breaking up the brawl, authorities said.—
-
In July, a group of girls got into a brawl near the restaurant's entrance that others recorded and posted on social media.—
Noun
-
Perhaps most shocking and sycophantic is an appearance by Chris Rock in Ye’s dressing room after the altercation.—
-
Considering DiSandro was fined $100,000 and banned from the Eagles' sideline for the rest of the regular season for his altercation with Greenlaw, some might say the NFL took it easy on him this time.—
Noun
-
Following a 12-game non-conference slate, highlighted by home bouts with Utah State and Davidson, as well as road clashes with Virginia Tech and Appalachian State, the 49ers tip off what hopes to be a bounce-back year in conference play — starting on New Year’s Eve.—
-
In the build-up to this scene, Jordan has a clash with the head of student life about their gender identity, and the school’s intentional disregard of their experience and language around it.—
Cite this Entry
“Affray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affray. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share