squabble
1 of 2noun
squab·ble ˈskwä-bəl 
: a noisy altercation or quarrel usually over petty matters
squabble
2 of 2verb
squabbled; squabbling ˈskwä-b(ə-)liŋ
intransitive verb
: to quarrel noisily and usually over petty matters
squabbler
ˈskwä-b(ə-)lər
noun 
Synonyms
Noun
- altercation
- argle-bargle [chiefly British]
- argument
- argy-bargy [chiefly British]
- battle royal
- bicker
- brawl
- contretemps
- controversy
- cross fire
- disagreement
- dispute
- donnybrook
- falling-out
- fight
- hassle
- imbroglio
- kickup
- misunderstanding
- quarrel
- rhubarb
- row
- scrap
- set-to
- spat
- tiff
- wrangle
Verb
- altercate
- argue
- argufy
- bicker
- brabble
- brawl
- controvert
- dispute
- fall out
- fight
- hassle
- jar
- quarrel
- quibble
- row
- scrap
- spat
- tiff
- wrangle
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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
Kate Hogan, Peoplemag, 11 Aug. 2022 The deal brings an end to a strange, passive-aggressive offseason contract squabble. David Brandt, ajc, 21 July 2022 Cedric Maxwell engaged in a verbal squabble with Golden State's Draymond Green about the physicality of the NBA now compared to the ‘80s and ‘90s era. Toyloy Brown Iii, USA TODAY, 9 June 2022 But the accidental discovery of tens of thousands of Maier’s negatives led to a messy legal squabble over her suddenly lucrative estate, including an exhaustive search for a rightful heir. Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 31 July 2022 The federal offices in charge of allocating spectrum will step up their coordination so future 5G debuts won’t be grounded by the sort of interagency squabble that delayed C-band 5G’s launch. Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 2 Aug. 2022 The change would further help heighten the questions of legitimacy that arise in House of the Dragon amid the squabble for succession. Nick Romano, EW.com, 13 July 2022 The notion of allowing an internal squabble to spill into the unclassified realm was anathema. Patrick Radden Keefe, The New Yorker, 6 June 2022 Winter and Ashley squabble after an icy dinner; Erana and Jamie disagree on how to raise their sons. Hau Chu, Washington Post, 28 May 2022 Byanthony Trotter, ABC News, 19 May 2022 The more the two sides squabble over natural gas payments, and the longer the risk of an EU-wide boycott on Russian fossil fuels remains, the faster Russia is left behind. Kenneth Rapoza, Forbes, 4 May 2022 Detectives are stymied by bureaucrats and squabble with lunkhead patrol officers, who reliably contaminate crime scenes. New York Times, 16 Feb. 2022 However, this approach often leads you and your competition to squabble over incremental improvements to said features and functionalities. Cody Strate, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2022 Even though people squabble over the subtle flavor variances, the most identifiable distinction between Coke from the two countries is in the vessel. Naomi Tomky, Chron, 17 Mar. 2022 Some spread dangerous misinformation, twist facts, and squabble over trivial points as lives hang in the balance. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 9 Mar. 2022 But with Biden’s appointment of Khan to the FTC and Jonathan Kanter at the DOJ’s antitrust division, Meagher expects far less pushback on the Meta-Giphy deal than the GE-Honeywell squabble two decades ago. Scott Nover, Quartz, 7 Dec. 2021 As the remaining mages squabble for political power — with Stregobor on one side and Tissaia and Vilgefortz on the other — Yennefer remains a pawn being pushed around the chessboard. Scott Meslow, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2021 See More
Noun
Whatever happened in the hair and makeup room was only a squabble. Kate Hogan, Peoplemag, 11 Aug. 2022 The deal brings an end to a strange, passive-aggressive offseason contract squabble. David Brandt, ajc, 21 July 2022 Cedric Maxwell engaged in a verbal squabble with Golden State's Draymond Green about the physicality of the NBA now compared to the ‘80s and ‘90s era. Toyloy Brown Iii, USA TODAY, 9 June 2022 But the accidental discovery of tens of thousands of Maier’s negatives led to a messy legal squabble over her suddenly lucrative estate, including an exhaustive search for a rightful heir. Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 31 July 2022 The federal offices in charge of allocating spectrum will step up their coordination so future 5G debuts won’t be grounded by the sort of interagency squabble that delayed C-band 5G’s launch. Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 2 Aug. 2022 The change would further help heighten the questions of legitimacy that arise in House of the Dragon amid the squabble for succession. Nick Romano, EW.com, 13 July 2022 The notion of allowing an internal squabble to spill into the unclassified realm was anathema. Patrick Radden Keefe, The New Yorker, 6 June 2022 Winter and Ashley squabble after an icy dinner; Erana and Jamie disagree on how to raise their sons. Hau Chu, Washington Post, 28 May 2022 Verb
At the same time, U.S. allies South Korea and Japan continue to squabble over historical grievances, blocking a breakthrough in bilateral relations. Byanthony Trotter, ABC News, 19 May 2022 The more the two sides squabble over natural gas payments, and the longer the risk of an EU-wide boycott on Russian fossil fuels remains, the faster Russia is left behind. Kenneth Rapoza, Forbes, 4 May 2022 Detectives are stymied by bureaucrats and squabble with lunkhead patrol officers, who reliably contaminate crime scenes. New York Times, 16 Feb. 2022 However, this approach often leads you and your competition to squabble over incremental improvements to said features and functionalities. Cody Strate, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2022 Even though people squabble over the subtle flavor variances, the most identifiable distinction between Coke from the two countries is in the vessel. Naomi Tomky, Chron, 17 Mar. 2022 Some spread dangerous misinformation, twist facts, and squabble over trivial points as lives hang in the balance. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 9 Mar. 2022 But with Biden’s appointment of Khan to the FTC and Jonathan Kanter at the DOJ’s antitrust division, Meagher expects far less pushback on the Meta-Giphy deal than the GE-Honeywell squabble two decades ago. Scott Nover, Quartz, 7 Dec. 2021 As the remaining mages squabble for political power — with Stregobor on one side and Tissaia and Vilgefortz on the other — Yennefer remains a pawn being pushed around the chessboard. Scott Meslow, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish dialect skvabbel dispute
First Known Use
Noun
1602, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1604, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
squabble 1 of 2
noun
squab·ble ˈskwä-bəl
: a noisy quarrel usually over something unimportant
squabble
2 of 2verb
squabbled; squabbling
: to quarrel noisily for little or no reason
squabble 1 of 2
noun
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
- dispute
- quarrel
- bicker
- altercation
- disagreement
- controversy
- fight
- argument
- brawl
- misunderstanding
- spat
- skirmish
- tiff
- imbroglio
- wrangle
- disputation
- feud
- row
- debate
- contretemps
- clash
- donnybrook
- tussle
- battle royal
- falling-out
- cross fire
- set-to
- argy-bargy
- argle-bargle
- rhubarb
- tangle
- difference
- scrap
- hassle
- kickup
- protest
- logomachy
- vendetta
- contention
- dissension
- attack
- fisticuffs
- dissention
- catfight
- objection
- protestation
- fuss
- run-in
- fracas
- melee
- affray
- fray
- mêlée
- free-for-all
squabble
2 of 2verb
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
- bicker
- quarrel
- argue
- fight
- spat
- dispute
- clash
- brawl
- debate
- tiff
- wrangle
- quibble
- row
- scrap
- hassle
- discuss
- fall out
- altercate
- controvert
- brabble
- lock horns
- argufy
- jar
- bandy words
- contest
- mix it up
- butt heads
- challenge
- dare
- tangle
- contend
- nitpick
- protest
- object
- cavil
- fuss
- defy
- kick
- consider
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- coexist
- agree
- accept
- concur
- get along
- consent
- assent
Synonym Chooser
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
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
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
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
- spoken
- spoken (for)
- spoken (to or with)
- spoken for
- spoken of
- spoken one's mind
- spoken out
- spoken to or with
- spoken up
- spokes
- spokeshave
- spokeshaves
- spokesman
- spokesmanship
- spokesmanships
- spokesmen
- spokesmodel
- spokesmodels
- spokespeople
- spokesperson
- spokespersons
- spokeswoman
- spokeswomen
- spokewise
- spoking