riot
Violent crowd outbreak
A riot is a violent public disturbance by a crowd—people smashing windows, looting, clashing with police.
The word extends to anything wild or uncontrolled: a riot of color, Her garden was a riot of wildflowers.
To riot is to participate in such disorder.
If something runs riot, it spreads unchecked.
Informally, a riot is something or someone hilarious: Your uncle is an absolute riot.
Public display of opinion
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- insurrectionViolent uprising against authority
- revoltOrganized resistance to power
mutiny · insurgency · civil unrest · mob · uprising · dissent · resistance · defiance
Disorderly group fight
- meleeDisordered group skirmish
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- rampageViolent, destructive outburst
- lootingTheft during disorder
vandalism · arson · destruction · mayhem · carnage · havoc · confrontation · skirmish
State of utter confusion
- bedlamState of wild disorder
- tumultNoisy, chaotic disturbance
- chaosComplete disorder and confusion
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
disturbance · disorder · ruckus · hullabaloo · commotion · frenzy · madness · hysteria
demonstration
Public display of opinion
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- insurrectionViolent uprising against authority
revolt · mutiny · insurgency · civil unrest · mob · uprising · dissent · resistance · defiance · revolution
brawl
Disorderly group fight
- meleeDisordered group skirmish
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- rampageViolent, destructive outburst
looting · vandalism · arson · destruction · mayhem · carnage · havoc · confrontation · skirmish · affray
pandemonium
State of utter confusion
turmoil · disturbance · disorder · ruckus · hullabaloo · commotion · frenzy · madness · hysteria · confusion
hit
Successful contact or strike
- sensationPerceived stimulus or phenomenon
- smashBreak violently apart
- showstopperSpectacular crowd-pleasing performance
triumph · knockout · wow · scream · blast · hoot · laugh · spectacle · entertainment · crowd-pleaser
profusion
Extravagant amount present
kaleidoscope · array · abundance · display · extravaganza · spectacle · vivid · vibrant · dazzling · brilliant
- aggressionhostility, violence, attack, fight, combativeness
- crimesarson, burglary, robbery, kidnapping, vandalism
- commotioncommotion, clamor, brouhaha, bedlam, hullabaloo
- crowd behaviorcheering, chanting, booing, clapping, applause
- crowd movementstampede, surge, crowd surge, rush, mob
- defiancedefiance, disobedience, insubordination, noncompliance, rebellion
- riot policeOfficers deployed for civil unrest
- read the riot actSeverely warn of consequences
- the riot actForceful verbal reprimand
- riot gearProtective equipment for civil disturbance
- run riotAct wildly without control
- riot shieldProtective panel for officers