fracas
noun
fra·cas ˈfrā-kəs 
ˈfra-,
British
ˈfra-ˌkä plural fracases ˈfrā-kə-səz
ˈfra-
or British fracas ˈfra-ˌkäz : a noisy quarrel : brawl
a drunken fracas
Synonyms
- battle
- clash
- combat
- conflict
- contest
- dustup
- fight
- fray
- hassle
- scrap
- scrimmage
- scrum
- scuffle
- skirmish
- struggle
- tussle
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the police broke up the fracas in the bar and threw both combatants in the lockup police preparing for any fracas that might follow the soccer game
Recent Examples on the Web The criminal complaint filed in the case described a fracas that lasted as long as seven minutes and required the help of a fourth individual – a citizen – to detain the man. 
Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2022 The committee also played dramatic video from the day of the attack, showing police officers and rioters clashing in a violent and sometimes bloody fracas as the Capitol was quickly breached following an address by Trump. al, 9 June 2022 Before Schulte’s departure, there had been one final fracas. Patrick Radden Keefe, The New Yorker, 6 June 2022 Activist Roderick Webber was arrested for assault and battery on a police officer during a fracas outside of West Roxbury Municipal Court. Anjali Huynh, BostonGlobe.com, 25 July 2022 Two people who were injured in the fracas were taken to a hospital by paramedics. Felicia Alvarez, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2022 Those emphatic descriptives color his play-by-play when the Suns dunk, make a 3-pointer, and are hit with a disputable violation by officials or get in a fracas with their opponents, respectively. Dana Scott, The Arizona Republic, 24 Feb. 2022 The edgelord scoundrels have branched into what has now become their favorite fracas-boosting subtopic of AI, which is AI Ethics. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 10 July 2022 The fracas began shortly after takeoff on an American Airlines flight from Seattle, Washington, to Charlotte, North Carolina, on Jan. 9. Paul Best, Fox News, 1 July 2022 See More
Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2022 The committee also played dramatic video from the day of the attack, showing police officers and rioters clashing in a violent and sometimes bloody fracas as the Capitol was quickly breached following an address by Trump. al, 9 June 2022 Before Schulte’s departure, there had been one final fracas. Patrick Radden Keefe, The New Yorker, 6 June 2022 Activist Roderick Webber was arrested for assault and battery on a police officer during a fracas outside of West Roxbury Municipal Court. Anjali Huynh, BostonGlobe.com, 25 July 2022 Two people who were injured in the fracas were taken to a hospital by paramedics. Felicia Alvarez, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2022 Those emphatic descriptives color his play-by-play when the Suns dunk, make a 3-pointer, and are hit with a disputable violation by officials or get in a fracas with their opponents, respectively. Dana Scott, The Arizona Republic, 24 Feb. 2022 The edgelord scoundrels have branched into what has now become their favorite fracas-boosting subtopic of AI, which is AI Ethics. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 10 July 2022 The fracas began shortly after takeoff on an American Airlines flight from Seattle, Washington, to Charlotte, North Carolina, on Jan. 9. Paul Best, Fox News, 1 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
French, din, row, from Italian fracasso, from fracassare to shatter
First Known Use
1716, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
fracas
noun
fra·cas ˈfrā-kəs
ˈfra-
: a noisy quarrel : brawl
fracas
noun
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
- skirmish
- clash
- battle
- fight
- scuffle
- dustup
- tussle
- fray
- brawl
- altercation
- struggle
- conflict
- contest
- confrontation
- scrimmage
- combat
- scrum
- duel
- quarrel
- donnybrook
- melee
- spat
- dispute
- ruckus
- fisticuffs
- fistfight
- contretemps
- affray
- mêlée
- scrap
- hassle
- blows
- squabble
- controversy
- tiff
- tangle
- punch-up
- pitched battle
- ruction
- slugfest
- row
- joust
- battle royal
- misunderstanding
- rough-and-tumble
- catfight
- mix-up
- disagreement
- grapple
- wrangle
- broil
- face-off
- free-for-all
- argument
- argle-bargle
- argy-bargy
- cross fire
- falling-out
- handgrips
- punch-out
- kickup
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- truce
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
- brawl
- altercation
- clash
- donnybrook
- melee
- ruckus
- affray
- mêlée
- fray
- skirmish
- scuffle
- ruction
- row
- tussle
- fisticuffs
- rough-and-tumble
- broil
- free-for-all
- battle
- dispute
- spat
- argument
- horseplay
- squabble
- tiff
- conflict
- quarrel
- contest
- scrimmage
- roughhousing
- combat
- struggle
- wrangle
- handgrips
- scrap
- hassle
- kickup