melee
2 synonyms for melee, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A confused, chaotic fight or struggle involving a group of people at close quarters.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
scrimmage
battle royal
How to use melee
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
melee combat
melee weapon
general melee
Etymology
Borrowed from French mêlée, from Old French mesler ("to mix") — related to Latin misceo, "to mix," making it a doublet of "medley."
Full origin of melee →Frequently asked questions
What does “melee” mean?
The word “melee” means a confused, chaotic fight or struggle involving a group of people at close quarters. In plain terms, a chaotic close-quarters brawl, or (in games) fighting hand-to-hand rather than at a distance.
How do you pronounce “melee”?
“Melee” is pronounced MEH-lay (/ˈmeɪˌleɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “melee” in a sentence?
Here is “melee” used in a sentence: “The peaceful protest turned into a melee outside the stadium.”
What part of speech is “melee”?
Depending on how it is used, “melee” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “melee” come from?
The word “melee” comes from Latin. Borrowed from French mêlée, from Old French mesler ("to mix") — related to Latin misceo, "to mix," making it a doublet of "medley.".
How many meanings does “melee” have?
“Melee” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a confused, chaotic fight or struggle involving a group of people at close quarters.
