affray

noun

ə-ˈfrā How to pronounce affray (audio)
Definition of affraynext
chiefly British
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

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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 As a result of the operation, 22 were arrested on charges that included affray, possession of narcotics, resisting without violence, and unlawful possession of a weapon. — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026 All of the suspects face charges of affray and disrupting court proceedings, while the juvenile faces additional charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery on a police officer. — Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 22 May 2026 Lil Tjay was briefly jailed on suspicion of misdemeanor disorderly conduct-affray before he was released on $500 bond. — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026 The Seminole Police Department told PEOPLE in a statement that rapper Lil Tjay (né Tione Jayden Merritt) was arrested on April 6 in connection with the casino incident, and booked on suspicion of misdemeanor disorderly conduct-affray. — Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for affray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affray
  1. brawl
  2. altercation
Noun
  • There appeared to be no lingering ill will in the first meeting between the clubs since a three-game series at Cincinnati in mid-April that featured a benches-clearing brawl.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The brawl follows one last week during the City Series at Wrigley Field.
    — Evgenia Anastasakos, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of brawl
Noun
  • The Honda continues down the street and crashes into a parked car, as Good’s wife, Becca Good, who was recording the altercation, runs after it.
    — Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Detectives found that Spencer was involved in an altercation with a man inside the library before the stabbing.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of altercation

Browse Nearby Words

affords
affray
affrays
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Cite this Entry

“Affray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affray. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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