as in dispute
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
frightened by noise of the squabble, the cat hid under the couch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to bicker
to express different opinions about something often angrily
the children squabbled loudly over who got to play with the toy first
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of squabble
Liam Twomey, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Kim and Kourtney Kardashian are getting into yet another fashion squabble.
—Catherine Santino, People.com, 27 Feb. 2025
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 7 May 2025
The same day that Patel appeared before the Senate, a meeting of the Democratic National Committee began in Maryland, where officials squabbled over rules, were flattered by MSNBC hosts, and did not dare suggest that Biden ought not to have remained in the race for so long.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for squabble
Noun
Simon Johnson Whatever happened to the ownership squabble between Clearlake and Boehly during an international break pre-Christmas?
—Liam Twomey, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Kim and Kourtney Kardashian are getting into yet another fashion squabble.
—Catherine Santino, People.com, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
If the reports are true that the Avs and Rantanen were squabbling over a $500,000 difference in annual salary, then C-Mac and Super Joe might’ve just kissed the rest of MacKinnon’s career peak goodbye.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 7 May 2025
The same day that Patel appeared before the Senate, a meeting of the Democratic National Committee began in Maryland, where officials squabbled over rules, were flattered by MSNBC hosts, and did not dare suggest that Biden ought not to have remained in the race for so long.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for squabble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squabble
Noun
-
Those CBAs also require that should there be a dispute as to whether the league, a club, a union, or a player abided by their obligations under the CBA, such dispute be settled through a confidential arbitration process.—
Chris Deubert,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
-
The Supreme Court on May 27 declined to get involved in a dispute about mining on land sacred to the San Carlos Apache Tribe, a case that religious groups backed to test the scope of a 1993 federal law protecting religious freedom.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
28 May 2025
Verb
-
In the film, Lawrence and her co-star Robert Pattinson proved worthy adversaries, who bicker and screw their way into emotional oblivion in Ramsay’s tense portrait of a woman undone.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
17 May 2025
-
Protesters shouted from the back of the room and lawmakers bickered.—
Eric Lipton,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
Noun
-
The defense attorney suggested that Cassie’s rape allegation stemmed from a complicated quarrel playing out as their decade-plus relationship came to an end.—
Victoria Bekiempis,
Vulture,
16 May 2025
-
Other great powers will have their territorial goals and quarrels and this does not normally concern you.—
Frank Lavin,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
Verb
-
But the state’s attorney general, Gentner Drummond, sued and argued the state constitution did not allow for public funds to be spent for churches or the teaching of religion.—
David G. Savage,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2025
-
The moderates advocated for an increase to the SALT cap, currently set at $10,000, but argued that the $30,000 cap outlined in the package remained too low.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
Jaques said officers at 7:49 a.m. on Sunday received a complaint from a woman who reported that someone was following her vehicle while waving a gun following an altercation at a local gas station.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
27 May 2025
-
Initial data provided by the department suggest that practicing the martial art not only helps boost officers' physical and mental health, but also enables cops to use less force during an arrest or altercation.—
Katja Ridderbusch,
NPR,
26 May 2025
Verb
-
Holland has been one of the more active UFC competitors since losing that contest by decision, fighting at middleweight and welterweight.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
-
Then, in February, the Trump administration announced an end of free COVID testing, a mainstay program in fighting the pandemic.—
Bruce Yandle,
Boston Herald,
1 June 2025
Noun
-
The suit recounts numerous comments made by Trump and the White House attacking PBS’ content, to underscore the point that the defunding is motivated by disagreement over speech.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
30 May 2025
-
The question – at the center of disagreements over transgender athletes’ participation in sports – has echoed from high school running tracks to Olympic arenas as lawmakers and sports bodies face intense pressure to weigh in on a debate over what fair play looks like.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
29 May 2025
Verb
-
The first is that when U.S. soldiers returned from the war there, protesters spat upon them in disdain.—
Jonathan Zimmerman,
Foreign Affairs,
19 May 2016
-
The flare comes after nearly a week of flares and coronal plasma ejections spat toward the planet that threatened disruptions to power and communications systems on Earth.—
Greg Wehner,
Fox News,
15 May 2024
Cite this Entry
“Squabble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squabble. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share