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
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Recent Examples of spat
Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
The Bourbon king’s symbolic remarks came after years of a diplomatic spat between Spain and Mexico over the Mexican government’s demands that Spain apologize for its 1519-1521 conquest of Mexico, which resulted in the death of a large part of the country’s pre-Hispanic population.
—ABC News, 16 Mar. 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
Trump’s use of a global trade war to alienate friends and abuse neighbors, and his spats with allies over the fates of Greenland and Ukraine, seem to have left room for Xi to grow his power.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
The Bourbon king’s symbolic remarks came after years of a diplomatic spat between Spain and Mexico over the Mexican government’s demands that Spain apologize for its 1519-1521 conquest of Mexico, which resulted in the death of a large part of the country’s pre-Hispanic population.
—ABC News, 16 Mar. 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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Video released by the department showed two women in prison outfits in a physical altercation.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
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York and the man later appeared to find their way to a parking garage area as the altercation continues, per the footage released by TMZ.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Jokic and Oklahoma City’s players had bothered each other and bickered all night.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
28 Feb. 2026
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Her grandparents are constantly bickering, worn down by the pressures of keeping the family hotel afloat.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Officers said they were called to the area for a domestic dispute.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
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Merit filed for bankruptcy last July and became embroiled in a thorny legal dispute with a former broadcasting business partner.—
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But their defense lawyers argue the Colombian team was only providing support to arrest Moïse, and that presidential security guards and national police officers had killed him before the Colombians showed up at his home.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
17 Mar. 2026
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The Justice Department argued that the Department of Homeland Security has sole power over the program, which was designed to be temporary.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Two men were hospitalized early Sunday after a quarrel turned into a shootout on the 79th Street Red Line platform along the Dan Ryan Expressway.—
Dylan Olsen,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
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Herro posted a photo of that autographed Durant jersey on his Instagram on Sunday, acknowledging his respect for Durant hours after Saturday’s quarrel.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But is everyone really fighting in this scenario?—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
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Michael Loria The war with Iran has sparked fighting throughout the Middle East, including in Lebanon where Israel and Iran ally Hezbollah have been fighting intermittently for generations.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Throughout the campaign, Conyears-Ervin deflected from her controversies by framing herself as a scrappy politician who is the right candidate to defend the district’s most vulnerable residents.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
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As her audience has grown, so too have the controversies that define her brand.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Drivers brawled with attendants when the gas ran out, or when the lines weren’t moving fast enough, and cops closed down the stations, which made no one happy.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
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Weaving’s nickname of Sam even inspired the character’s name, so the notion of them brawling in Ready or Not 2 could’ve been some meta fun.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spat. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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