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
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Clearly, both sides can take a timeout from their squabbles.—Dick Batchelor, Orlando Sentinel, 16 June 2024 Their squabble turned physical, and the two men beat Garcia-Desiderio on the sidewalk, just a block from his home.—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 15 June 2024
Verb
Unlike the communes of the past where participants share the same living space, most of Radish’s members have their own standalone homes — a way to live communally without sacrificing privacy or squabbling over housework.—Zoë Bernard, Vox, 20 June 2024 Indeed, there are still too many scenes of people squabbling in the medieval equivalent of conference rooms.—Samantha Miller, Peoplemag, 15 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for squabble
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'squabble.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish dialect skvabbel dispute
Share