melee
nounUK /ˈmɛleɪ/
US /ˈmeɪleɪ/
A melee is a messy, confusing fight with lots of people.
The food fight turned into a melee with cake flying everywhere.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A confused, noisy crowd of people.
A melee of shoppers rushed through the doors on sale day.
3. In games, close-up fighting with hands or weapons instead of shooting from far away.
The knight switched to melee combat when the archers ran out of arrows.
4. A heated argument or dispute involving many people.
The meeting ended in a melee of shouting and angry words.