battle royal

battle royal

noun

plural battles royal or battle royals

Definition of BATTLE ROYAL

1

a : a fight participated in by more than two combatants; especially : one in which the last man in the ring or on his feet is declared the winner b : a violent struggle

2

: a heated dispute

Examples of BATTLE ROYAL

1. <the dysfunctional couple next door had another one of their battles royal last night>

First Known Use of BATTLE ROYAL

1671

Related to BATTLE ROYAL

Synonyms: altercation, argle-bargle [chiefly British], argy-bargy [chiefly British], argument, bicker, brawl, contretemps, controversy, cross fire, disagreement, dispute, donnybrook, falling-out, fight, hassle, imbroglio, kickup, misunderstanding, quarrel, rhubarb, row, scrap, set-to, spat, squabble, tiff, wrangle

Related Words: clash, run-in, skirmish, tangle, tussle; logomachy; feud, vendetta; attack, contention, dissension (also dissention); debate, difference, disputation; fuss, objection, protest, protestation; affray [chiefly British], fisticuffs, fracas, fray, free-for-all, melee (also mêlée); catfight

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