bicker

1 of 2

noun

bick·​er ˈbi-kər How to pronounce bicker (audio)
1
: petulant quarreling : altercation
2
: a sound of or as if of bickering

bicker

2 of 2

verb

bickered; bickering ˈbi-k(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce bicker (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to engage in a petulant or petty quarrel
bickering over money
2
a
: to move with a rapidly repeated noise
a bickering stream
bickerer noun

Examples of bicker in a Sentence

Noun after a prolonged bicker, they finally managed to find a movie that both of them were interested in seeing Verb She is always bickering with her mother. They bickered about how to decorate the room.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Although Newsom sometimes bickers with unions, maintaining a close relationship with labor is imperative for Democratic governors in California. Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2023 As the frosty Rose and flippant Teddy bicker, bond and inch closer to literal death along their morbid journey, Parker and Kohli shine in meaty leading roles that feel long overdue. Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2022 As a couple whose destination wedding is interrupted by hostage-taking pirate-terrorists, the two bicker and banter with classic screwball brio, with a love-hate rapport that is both delightful and effortlessly convincing. Elise Brisco, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2023 Anthropologists bicker over these classifications, so slightly different names are used by different researchers. Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, 29 Aug. 2019 Accordingly, with a few deft musical gestures, the couples bicker, get back together, break up. Sarah L. Kaufman, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2022 And how the brothers bicker while playing video games, including chipping the puck in and forechecking like it’s real life. Dallas News, 15 Mar. 2022 Investors are more than happy when politicians bicker but don’t actually enact any new laws that may hurt corporate profits. Paul R. La Monica, CNN, 8 Nov. 2022 The series’ juxtaposition of the supernatural and mundane is the perfect setting for a pack of underachieving vampires who’d rather stay home and bicker than subjugate mankind. Ed Stockly, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2022
Verb
In 2022, the feds and the agency bickered over an analysis conducted by the FTA that said the project could cost $9.1 billion. Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 Those two pallid politicians sat on either side of him and bickered while Jesse sat silent. Letter Writers, Twin Cities, 9 Feb. 2024 Her powers of observation miss nothing: roughhousing children, bickering adults, pets scampering underfoot. Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2024 But the deal is in danger of collapsing after the two Koreas began bickering since the North’s first successful military spy satellite launch in November. Hyung-Jin Kim, USA TODAY, 5 Jan. 2024 Behind the scenes, Fallon bickered with guests Ben Stiller, Tina Fey and one of the members of Florida Georgia Line tried to get into a sketch against the host’s wishes, Meanwhile, a live audience was on hand for interviews and performances. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 28 Feb. 2024 Two such comedies, really — the thugs bicker constantly about the importance of enjoying life, of putting yourself out there. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 21 Feb. 2024 The absence of one Jennifer Shah, currently incarcerated and palling around with Liz Holmes, is barely felt now that Mary Cosby is back, in theory if not always in practice, and the other ladies are bickering at a drop of (Vida) tequila. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 5 Dec. 2023 Troughton and Pertwee’s rivalry (on screen and off) is all in good fun, making a delightful pair of bickering Time Lords. Adam Lujan, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bicker.' 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

Middle English biker

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bicker was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near bicker

Cite this Entry

“Bicker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bicker. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bicker

verb
bick·​er
ˈbik-ər
bickered; bickering
ˈbik-(ə-)riŋ
: to quarrel in an irritating way especially over unimportant things
bickerer noun

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