1
as in brawl
a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people
a dozen people were arrested after the donnybrook at the stadium
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2
as in altercation
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
the kind of hot-button issue that inevitably creates a donnybrook in the halls of the statehouse
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of donnybrook
There were, however, the makings of a donnybrook.
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Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2022
Both guys are going to come out swinging and tire themselves out, but Danny’s going to bring it early and often to make Errol prove he’s fully recovered in a donnybrook.
—Manouk Akopyan, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2020
The unequal three-way donnybrook — film critics on one side, the vox populi and aggrieved artists on the other — is a digital-era twist on a perennial Hollywood story.
—Thomas Doherty, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Jan. 2022
Second, there is that political donnybrook sense of a right ugly fight while people hammer each other in hopes of furthering their own agendas.
—Erik Sherman, Forbes, 25 Dec. 2021
See all Example Sentences for donnybrook 
Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2022
Both guys are going to come out swinging and tire themselves out, but Danny’s going to bring it early and often to make Errol prove he’s fully recovered in a donnybrook.
—Manouk Akopyan, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2020
The unequal three-way donnybrook — film critics on one side, the vox populi and aggrieved artists on the other — is a digital-era twist on a perennial Hollywood story.
—Thomas Doherty, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Jan. 2022
Second, there is that political donnybrook sense of a right ugly fight while people hammer each other in hopes of furthering their own agendas.
—Erik Sherman, Forbes, 25 Dec. 2021
See all Example Sentences for donnybrook
Recent Examples of Synonyms for donnybrook
Noun
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Following the incident, a brawl erupted between both teams.Danielle Jennings, People.com, 3 Dec. 2024
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None was bigger than the Ohio State-Michigan brawl, which left players and coaches bloodied, and at least one officer injured.Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 1 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Jamie Foxx is thanking fans for their support after an altercation at his birthday dinner this weekend required him to get stitches.Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 15 Dec. 2024
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Things got worse for Curtis, who was arrested and charged with assault because of his altercation with assistant DA Daniels.Barry Levitt, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The Cricket Celebration Bowl is here, bringing a heavyweight clash between two red-hot teams.Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024
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At times, Zayn vs. McIntyre looked like it would be set for a major pay-per-view, perhaps at an event like SummerSlam, and though that never materialized, Saturday Night’s Main Event was the perfect stage for their clash.Blake Oestriecher, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Research has distinguished between three simple strategies to deal with neighbor disputes: avoidance of the party whose behavior is experienced as unneighborly; confronting the neighbor face-to-face; and relying on a third party to sort out the issue, e.g. the landlord or even police.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
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Nearly a decade later, a dark storm cloud has descended upon his increasingly unpopular administration, with the resignation of a top Cabinet minister over a dispute about how to manage US president-elect Donald Trump’s tariff threats.Lex Harvey, CNN, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
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That’s the main quarrel of opponents of such conservation projects.Christine Ro, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
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Experts at the conference floated the possibility that the aquatic quarrel could make its way to the Supreme Court, though that’s viewed as a crisis that should be averted.Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The records put an end to a monthslong controversy over whether Winfrey was paid for endorsing the former Democratic presidential nominee.Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 7 Dec. 2024
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After Joaquin Phoenix dropped out of Todd Haynes’ gay romance film in September, just days before filming started, Haynes has spoken out for the first time about the controversy.Them, Them, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Any disagreements or requests for information should be noted in that report.Madeline Mitchell, The Enquirer, 8 Dec. 2024
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Relationships, at their best, are not just defined by extraordinary moments or their endings—they’re about the moments in between, the routine, the joy, the disagreements and the growth.Mark Travers, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Read more: Fight Breaks Out After Michigan Football Takes Down Rival Ohio State in Unranked Upset Win Though it is expected for opposing teams to get chippy with one another, especially following a loss, the fight was not a good look for the NCAA.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
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Dylan and Baez didn’t get into a fight onstage over the setlist.Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Donnybrook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/donnybrook. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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