squabble
/ˈskwɒb(ə)l
/noun
A noisy quarrel about something trivial: family squabbles...
- We've survived distance, illness and family squabbles and with every challenge we overcome, we get a little closer.
- He doesn't have time for his family's petty squabbles, or lounging around in bars with his mates.
- During a family squabble, my parents told us exactly how ‘disappointed’ they were in us.
Synonyms
quarrel, row, argument, fight, contretemps, disagreement, difference of opinion, dissension, falling-out, dispute, disputation, contention, clash, altercation, shouting match, exchange, war of words;
tussle, conflict, fracas, affray, wrangle, tangle, passage of/at arms, battle royal;
Irish, North American, & Australian donnybrook
informal tiff, set-to, run-in, shindig, shindy, stand-up, spat, scrap, dust-up
British informal barney, slanging match, bunfight, ding-dong, bust-up, ruck
British informal, Football afters
Scottish informal rammy
North American informal rhubarb
archaic broil, miff
Scottish archaic threap, collieshangie
French archaic tracasserie(s)
verb [no object]
Quarrel noisily over a trivial matter: the boys were squabbling over a ball...
- We already have too many boys squabbling over too many toys.
- It's fun to watch when the candidates start arguing between themselves, squabbling like petty children.
- Our four-year-old twins (age gap: two minutes) have fought and squabbled since they grasped the concept of owning anything.
Synonyms
quarrel, row, argue, bicker, have a row/fight, fight, fall out, disagree, fail to agree, differ, be at odds, have a misunderstanding, be at variance, have words, dispute, spar, wrangle, bandy words, cross swords, lock horns, be at each other's throats, be at loggerheads
informal scrap, go at it hammer and tongs, argufy
archaic altercate, chop logic
Scottish archaic threap
Derivatives
squabbler
- In return, Auckland City has been governed by petty squabblers who indulge in personal attacks on each other.
- This week it's The Taming of the Shrew, Franco Zeffirelli's 1967 adaptation of Shakespeare's comedy about two squabblers (Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton) who fall in love.
Origin
Early 17th century: probably imitative; compare with Swedish dialect skvabbel 'a dispute'.