bickering

1 of 2

noun

bick·​er·​ing ˈbi-k(ə-)riŋ 

: petty and petulant quarreling especially when prolonged or habitual

… said his own bosses, through their persistent bickering, had made his job practically impossible.

—Ronald Scott

also, bickerings plural : instances of such quarreling

was tired of listening to their endless bickerings

bickering

2 of 2

adjective

: engaging in or characterized by petty and petulant quarreling

a bickering couple

bickering politicians

Examples of bickering in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The entire affair smelled like a quasi-constitutional coup attempt authored by a desperate head of state whose intensive bickering with the National Assembly over everything from budgets to investigations had induced a nervous breakdown. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024

Bill Maher eviscerates Neil deGrasse Tyson on transgender athletes controversy Robby Soave and Niall Stanage react to Bill Maher and scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson bickering over why Democrats lost the election. —The Hill, 28 Nov. 2024

Adjective

Both are unemployed with little opportunity in sight, pitted against each other in a constantly bickering home, and listless about it all. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024

There will be no studio audience during the 90-minute VP debate, but expect some sparring and more bickering than bantering ahead of the 2 minute closing arguments. —Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1573, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1811, in the meaning defined above