as in altercation
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
like any couple, they have their spats
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to bicker
to express different opinions about something often angrily
we tend to spat over money more than anything else
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of spat
Ryan Morik, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2025
The new, federal-level tariff comes on the heels of a tariff spat between the U.S. and Ontario this week.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 12 Mar. 2025
Liam Stack, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2023
South Carolina was on the east bank and Georgia on the west; the temperature was in the fifties, and gray clouds spat water in our faces.
—Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 21 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for spat
Noun
The two now-former Cowboys teammates had a spat on X late Thursday stemming from Lawrence's apparent decision to sign with the Seattle Seahawks after 11 seasons.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2025
The new, federal-level tariff comes on the heels of a tariff spat between the U.S. and Ontario this week.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
The teenager first asked the hotel to forgive him, the lawsuit said, but soon flew into a rage, screaming that the hotel was antisemitic and that its employees spat in people’s food.
—Liam Stack, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2023
South Carolina was on the east bank and Georgia on the west; the temperature was in the fifties, and gray clouds spat water in our faces.
—Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 21 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for spat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spat
Noun
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The two then had an altercation, during which one of the children was knocked over and Villalobos fled, according to authorities.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
27 Mar. 2025
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Although officially estranged, the couple were still living together with their three sons under the age of 11 at the time of the July 16, 2023, altercation outside their house.—
Liam Quinn,
People.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Force an impatient couple to bicker in Route 23 traffic.—
Tyler Buchanan,
Axios,
21 Mar. 2025
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Somehow McKay keeps the movie spinning even after Dale and Brennan stop bickering and start sticking together: Adam Scott, as Brennan’s snobby, overachieving brother, makes a terrific common enemy.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
TIME,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
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As the quarrel over seating escalated, the attacker, who was wearing a black face mask, slashed the victim on his left hand with an unknown weapon.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
26 Feb. 2025
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The quarrel swiftly escalated when Perez allegedly struck her twice on the left side of her temple and pulled her hair.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Current Social Science Research Approaches Are Limited For decades, Lahlou argues, the social sciences and their applications in fields as diverse as marketing and industrial psychology have focused primarily on individual psychology and interpersonal dynamics.—
Benjamin Voyer,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
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However, Students for Justice in Palestine argue the event threatens students’ emotional and physical safety, and is in violation of the school’s neutrality policies.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The White House is trying to have it every way possible in a high-stakes dispute over its speedy deportation of hundreds of immigrants to El Salvador.—
Philip Elliott,
TIME,
17 Mar. 2025
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The dispute came after President Donald Trump invoked a centuries-old law that would give him the ability to deport any noncitizen with little to no due process.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
17 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Earlier in the day, President Trump rejected reports that adviser Elon Musk would be briefed on how the United States would fight a hypothetical war with China.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2025
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After the Woodley fight was canceled, Edwards wanted to fight Jorge Masvidal, someone ranked ahead of him or for the UFC welterweight crown.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The controversy and the film’s box-office success nevertheless sparked interest from Western distributors.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
21 Mar. 2025
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While controversy immediately arose over whether the administration had defied a court order to stop the deportation flights, the more important question will soon demand an answer: whether the Alien Enemies Act applies at all.—
Robert J. Delahunty,
National Review,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Everything explodes during a solstice dinner, when Shauna spits in Mari’s venison stew, which leads to the two girls brawling right there at the dinner table.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
14 Feb. 2025
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Cut to the two men brawling in the bowels of a derelict ship in the Miami port, where Spencer has imprisoned and ultimately attempts to drown his son to evade capture.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spat. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
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