quarrelsome

quar·rel·some

adj \ˈkwȯr(-ə)l-səm, ˈkwär(-ə)l-\

Definition of QUARRELSOME

: apt or disposed to quarrel in an often petty manner : contentious

— quar·rel·some·ly adverb

— quar·rel·some·ness noun

Examples of QUARRELSOME

1. <a quarrelsome student who was always being sent to the principal's office for starting fights in the halls>
2. <you're so quarrelsome: you can never do anything without a fuss>

First Known Use of QUARRELSOME

1596

Related to QUARRELSOME

Synonyms: aggressive, agonistic, argumentative, assaultive, bellicose, brawly, chippy, combative, confrontational, contentious, discordant, disputatious, feisty, gladiatorial, militant, pugnacious, belligerent, scrappy, truculent, warlike

Antonyms: nonaggressive, nonbelligerent, pacific, peaceable, peaceful, unbelligerent, uncombative, uncontentious

Related Words: antagonistic, fierce, hostile, hot-tempered; acidic, bearish, bilious, bristly, choleric, crabby, cranky, cross, disagreeable, dyspeptic, fractious, fretful, grouchy, grumpy, huffy, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, irascible, irritable, ornery, peevish, pettish, petulant, prickly, querulous, rude, snappish, snappy, stroppy [British], surly, testy, touchy, ugly, waspish; savage, vicious; battling, fighting, warring

Near Antonyms: anti-imperialist, antimilitarist, unwarlike; affable, amiable, amicable, benevolent, complaisant, conciliatory, cordial, easygoing, friendly, genial, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, ingratiating, kindhearted, obliging, pleasant, sociable; calm, quiet, relaxed, serene, tranquil; benign, gentle, kindly, mild

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See Synonym Discussion at belligerent