squabble 1 of 2

noun

ˈskwä-bəl How to pronounce squabble (audio)
Definition of squabblenext
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

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squabble

2 of 2

verb

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun squabble contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of squabble are altercation, quarrel, and wrangle. While all these words mean "a noisy dispute usually marked by anger," 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

When could altercation be used to replace squabble?

The words altercation and squabble can be used in similar contexts, but altercation implies fighting with words as the chief weapon, although it may also connote blows.

a loud public altercation

When can quarrel be used instead of squabble?

While the synonyms quarrel and squabble are close in meaning, quarrel implies heated verbal contention, stressing strained or severed relations which may persist beyond the contention.

a quarrel nearly destroyed the relationship

When is it sensible to use wrangle instead of squabble?

The words wrangle and squabble are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, wrangle suggests undignified and often futile disputation with a noisy insistence on differing opinions.

wrangle interminably about small issues

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
Noun
The trailer shows squabbles between contestants, a cutting board getting chopped in half and other tense moments. — Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 28 Jan. 2025 The realm of pay-TV distribution, long prone to squabbles over carriage fees and deal terms that commonly result in blackouts, has become even more contentious in the current era of cord-cutting. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 12 Feb. 2025
Verb
The Democratic House Minority Leader said his GOP counterparts were too busy squabbling amongst themselves to bring a proposal to the table that will keep the government funded past a March 14 deadline. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 7 Feb. 2025 In the car, the two cycle through a range of artists from the Bee Gees to Tame Impala, and often squabble over the chance to play new songs for Ramirez. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for squabble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squabble
  1. dispute
  2. bicker
  3. quarrel
  4. argue
  5. altercation
  6. fight
  7. disagreement
  8. spat
Noun
  • In the filing, Village Roadshow framed its ongoing arbitration dispute with Warner Bros. over The Matrix Resurrections as a turning point, effectively ending what had been its most lucrative business arrangement.
    — Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Mar. 2025
  • In December 2023, Majors was found guilty of assault and harassment of his former girlfriend, stemming from a domestic dispute that took place in March of that year.
    — Lisa Respers France, CNN, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of dispute
Verb
  • The 39-year-old victim and her boyfriend, identified by sources as 34-year-old Daquan Spence, bickered over smokes in their apartment on 155th St. near Baisley Blvd.
    — Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Without politics to bicker over or political visions to debate, the candidates mostly pitched themselves and their personal connections to the community.
    — Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025
Definition of bicker
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of quarrel
Verb
  • The big picture: Democrats have hammered Trump and Elon Musk for their approach to slicing federal agencies, arguing the administration has cut positions and programs without a clear understanding of the consequences.
    — Stephen Neukam, Axios, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Indeed, some analysts remain bullish — for example, ARK Invest famously projects massive long-term upside for Tesla, and Wedbush’s Dan Ives argues that autonomous tech is the holy grail that will eventually vindicate Tesla’s valuation.
    — Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of argue
Noun
  • The 18-year-old’s boyfriend was seen in the footage attempting to stop the altercation.
    — Angel Saunders, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The sole witness to the altercation was the car’s driver, who testified at the trial through an Urdu language translator.
    — Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of altercation
Verb
  • The new administration’s push to strip EPA’s regulatory powers would resonate beyond U.S. borders, where the global community is fighting to prevent irreversible climate damage.
    — Margo T. Oge, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Mills now fights to preserve her state’s refusal to keep men out of women’s sports.
    — James Erwin, National Review, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of fight
Noun
  • Daylight saving time isn’t going away anytime soon While all but two states in the U.S. continue to observe daylight saving time, there is still disagreement about whether the practice should be eliminated or made permanent.
    — Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Murkowski, who has long been critical of Trump and often expressed disagreement with the president, has previously sounded the alarm about some of DOGE's actions.
    — Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of disagreement
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
Definition of spat

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Cite this Entry

“Squabble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squabble. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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