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
Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Sep. 2025
His press secretary, Kayla Mamelak Altus, got into a spat on X with reporter Katie Honan on Thursday.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 13 Sep. 2025
Kareem Khadder, CNN, 4 Oct. 2023
The teenager first asked the hotel to forgive him, the lawsuit said, but soon flew into a rage, screaming that the hotel was antisemitic and that its employees spat in people’s food.
—Liam Stack, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for spat
Noun
While accusations of some grand conspiracy remain hearsay, Natthaphong says at the least the spat shows the peril of informal ties replacing official.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Sep. 2025
His press secretary, Kayla Mamelak Altus, got into a spat on X with reporter Katie Honan on Thursday.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
The teenager first asked the hotel to forgive him, the lawsuit said, but soon flew into a rage, screaming that the hotel was antisemitic and that its employees spat in people’s food.
—Liam Stack, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for spat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spat
Noun
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Hubert Mazur, Ray Collins and Jocelyne Robledo were also detained at the protests after engaging in physical altercations with federal officers, according to the court documents.—
Mason Leath,
ABC News,
29 Sep. 2025
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After the pursuit, Reeve appeared to engage in a verbal altercation with the game official.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In recent years, the companies have bickered about the rise of streaming services, in which the media companies are investing billions of dollars and which lure away cable and satellite customers.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
26 Sep. 2025
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Other witnesses indicated that the shooter was a third person who entered the fight between Runnels and Collins’ nephew after the two had already started to bicker, according to court records.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
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However, lovers’ quarrels or difficulty dealing with children (hissy fits or meltdowns) might occur.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
16 Sep. 2025
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The outcome of that long-simmering family quarrel is never really in much doubt, but there are still a few neat surprises involving a couple of rare bottles of whiskey and the fate of two family businesses.—
Stephen Farber,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Abrego Garcia’s lawyers have argued that travel to Moshannon is far more difficult for members of the defense team based in Nashville, and not easier for those in New York.—
Christine Valora,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Sep. 2025
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During oral arguments at the Arizona Supreme Court, attorney Eric Fraser, who argued on behalf of the state, didn't deny political violence occurred in the country.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The dispute affected educators and policymakers statewide — but Pendleton managed to take the best of both literacy methods and apply them to the 130,000-plus students then enrolled in San Diego schools, Lopez said.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Sep. 2025
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And with the network television settlements, the payouts arose after personal legal disputes.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Similarly to their meeting last year, Georgia trailed early and managed to fight its way back.—
Hunter Simpson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
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But instead of fighting my body and losing, now my body and I fight together against our enemy, anxiety.—
Jack Korngold,
Rolling Stone,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
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What's Next Chinese research ship operations in neighboring maritime zones are likely to remain a source of controversy as the country continues to strengthen its posture in the region.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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One quick line, in which an elderly woman recognizes Mark’s sport as one that was threatened with a legal ban, suggests both its controversy and its singularity, but the subject is dropped as casually as it’s mentioned.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Cody Rhodes came back with a Suicide Dive as the two brawled until the show went off the air.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
20 Sep. 2025
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Miami hosts Seattle Tuesday night -- the same teams that brawled after Seattle’s recent Leagues Cup title-game win.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spat. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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