quarrel implies heated verbal contention, stressing strained or severed relations which may persist beyond the contention.
a quarrel nearly destroyed the relationship
wrangle suggests undignified and often futile disputation with a noisy insistence on differing opinions.
wrangle interminably about small issues
altercation implies fighting with words as the chief weapon, although it may also connote blows.
a loud public altercation
squabble stresses childish and unseemly dispute over petty matters, but it need not imply bitterness or anger.
a brief squabble over what to do next
Examples of squabble in a Sentence
Noun
frightened by noise of the squabble, the cat hid under the couch Verb
The children were squabbling over the toys.
the children squabbled loudly over who got to play with the toy first
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Noun
However, despite the extraterrestrial happenings, the show remains heavily focused on land squabbles and personal conflicts.—Keith Langston, People.com, 6 July 2025 And there was the squabble for control among the heirs in 2017, with brothers Johnny and Jim Buss attempting but failing to oust Jeanie as the controlling owner.—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 22 June 2025
Verb
Let the bromance begin, as Derringer and Clarke squabble their way back to the Western world, punching out hoodlums and escaping to Poland in the back of a livestock truck.—Peter Debruge, Variety, 2 July 2025 After the verdict was read, the prosecution and defense squabbled over the matter, with Subramanian expected to make a decision later today.—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for squabble
Word History
Etymology
Noun
probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish dialect skvabbel dispute
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