affray
Public violent disturbance
An affray is a public fight or brawl, especially one that disturbs the peace.
The word carries legal weight in British law, where it refers specifically to using or threatening unlawful violence in a way that would frighten a reasonable person: He was charged with affray after the altercation outside the pub.
The term sounds formal or old-fashioned in everyday speech.
Brief disorderly struggle
- tussleBrief physical struggle
- meleeDisordered group skirmish
- fisticuffsHand-to-hand combat
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
fracas · rumble · donnybrook · altercation · punch-up · dust-up · free-for-all · set-to
Disruption of order
- upheavalViolent disturbance of order
- tumultNoisy, chaotic disturbance
- uproarNoisy public disturbance
- pandemoniumState of utter confusion
bedlam · chaos · mayhem · havoc · clamor · agitation · unrest · disorder
Violent offensive act
- batteryPortable electricity storage
- arrestSeize by law
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- defendantParty facing charges
indictment · conviction · charge · public order · disorderly conduct · plea · bail · magistrate
Verbal clash over differences
- quarrelAngry verbal dispute
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- antagonismActive opposition or hostility
contention · feud · discord · tension · animosity · disagreement · strife · friction
scuffle
Brief disorderly struggle
- tussleBrief physical struggle
- meleeDisordered group skirmish
- fisticuffsHand-to-hand combat
skirmish · fracas · rumble · donnybrook · altercation · punch-up · dust-up · free-for-all · set-to · ruckus
disturbance
Disruption of order
pandemonium · bedlam · chaos · mayhem · havoc · clamor · agitation · unrest · disorder · turmoil
assault
Violent offensive act
- batteryPortable electricity storage
- arrestSeize by law
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
defendant · indictment · conviction · charge · public order · disorderly conduct · plea · bail · magistrate · sentence
dispute
Verbal clash over differences
- quarrelAngry verbal dispute
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
antagonism · contention · feud · discord · tension · animosity · disagreement · strife · friction · enmity
- crimesarson, burglary, robbery, kidnapping, vandalism
- commotioncommotion, clamor, brouhaha, bedlam, hullabaloo
- fightsfight, brawl, scuffle, scrap, tussle
- misdemeanorsmisdemeanor, petty theft, disorderly conduct, public intoxication, petty larceny
- public disturbancesriot, disorderly conduct, brawl, disturbing the peace, breach of peace
- public offensesriot, disorderly conduct, public nuisance, breach of peace, unlawful assembly
affraypeace
Freedom from disturbance
calm · tranquility · order · public order · peaceful assembly