as in altercation
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
like any couple, they have their spats
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to bicker
to express different opinions about something often angrily
we tend to spat over money more than anything else
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of spat
Lauran Neergaard,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Momoa, 46, opted for a three-piece suit, pairing it with spats, patent leather shoes, and a tank top, adding a simple pendant necklace.
—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
19 June 2026
Julia Frankel The Associated Press,
Arkansas Online,
5 Oct. 2023
The one charged with assault spat on a person, while the others spat towards people, police said to explain the different charges.
—
Kareem Khadder,
CNN,
4 Oct. 2023
See All Example Sentences for spat
Noun
Days after the spat, the FDA accepted Moderna’s application.
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Lauran Neergaard,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Momoa, 46, opted for a three-piece suit, pairing it with spats, patent leather shoes, and a tank top, adding a simple pendant necklace.
—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
19 June 2026
Verb
Israeli media reported that coalition lawmaker Simcha Rothman had joined a Sukkot march during which ultra-Orthodox Jews spat at churches.
—
Julia Frankel The Associated Press,
Arkansas Online,
5 Oct. 2023
The one charged with assault spat on a person, while the others spat towards people, police said to explain the different charges.
—
Kareem Khadder,
CNN,
4 Oct. 2023
See All Example Sentences for spat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spat
Noun
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Witnesses told the Nantucket Current that the stabbing followed a verbal and physical altercation between the driver of a Myles Reis garbage truck and the driver of a Sayles Seafood delivery truck that had parked in the area.
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Cartwright said statements from those involved explained that the victim and her mother were involved in a physical altercation.
Verb
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King bickered with fans on social media.
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But Tilly and Gershon playfully bickered onstage as the former remembered things slightly differently, with Tilly saying the problem had more to do with a shot of her hand on Gershon's crotch that was deemed too realistic.
Noun
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The dispute has opened a new front in a years-long fight over transparency at the shelter, which has faced multiple investigations into overcrowding, animal deaths and a sharp decline in transfers to rescue groups.
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As bitcoin becomes more involved in private contracts, treasury strategies, cross border settlement and business arrangements, disputes will not always arrive in court as dramatic stories about hacks or scams.
Verb
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Srebnick, however, argued that the crash was a tragic accident — and did not amount to a crime.
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While some experts say the government should be involved in conversations about AI safety, others argue the result could stifle the industry.
Noun
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The victim got into a quarrel inside Bob’s Classic Barber Shop on Albany Ave.
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Rounding out the top five names were seven write-in votes for the Sacramento Capitals or Capitols — which could be nicknamed the Caps to avoid quarrels over the spelling — and six votes for the Sacramento Stingers or Sting, referencing the collegiate Sacramento State Hornets.
Verb
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Starmer has vowed to fight any leadership contest, deepening the sense of crisis within the Labour Party.
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Police said the bail agent and driver fought, and the agent fired one round, with the bullet striking the suspect in the arm.
Noun
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Worth noting Relievers Sam Hentges and Ryan Walker made their first appearances back at Oracle Park since the Pride Night controversy became a national story.
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The controversy began during a segment on the French sports network L’Équipe when presenter France Pierron argued that participating in the World Cup was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that should take precedence over family obligations.
Verb
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Another worker described the chaos as well over a dozen teens brawled inside the diner.
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The conflict that ensues is startling in the intensity of its violence, as bodies brawl and break in the mud, flaming torches are taken to the face, and red-hot blades are seared into flesh.
Cite this Entry
“Spat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spat. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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