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
John Scott Lewinski, The Washington Examiner, 13 June 2025
Musk and Trump recently engaged in a high-profile public spat, which the president blamed on his push to repeal electric vehicle incentives.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 13 June 2025
Liam Stack, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2023
South Carolina was on the east bank and Georgia on the west; the temperature was in the fifties, and gray clouds spat water in our faces.
—Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 21 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for spat
Noun
The spat between egos pits a conservative president against a rock n’ roll hero of the American working class — a voting bloc with a MAGA element that helped put Trump over the top in 2024.
—John Scott Lewinski, The Washington Examiner, 13 June 2025
Musk and Trump recently engaged in a high-profile public spat, which the president blamed on his push to repeal electric vehicle incentives.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 13 June 2025
Verb
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
South Carolina was on the east bank and Georgia on the west; the temperature was in the fifties, and gray clouds spat water in our faces.
—Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 21 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for spat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spat
Noun
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Santana declined to discuss specifics of what prompted the altercation.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
20 June 2025
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Santana said the altercation took place somewhere around the seventh inning.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
Verb
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In 2012, surviving members of the Beach Boys reunited for a 50th anniversary album, which quickly hit the Top 10 before the group again bickered and separated.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 June 2025
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Vance memes, framing the vice president as the troubled child of bickering parents.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Noun
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Victor Bautista got into an argument with his killer in front of NYCHA’s Moore Houses, across the street from troubled St. Mary’s Park, in Mott Haven about 7:45 a.m. As the quarrel escalated, the gunman shot Bautista in the chest near Trinity Ave.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
17 June 2025
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The canvas brims with characters who casually kill but also love, laugh, quarrel.—
Anupama Chopra,
HollywoodReporter,
12 June 2025
Verb
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Democrats, led by Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, had argued that in recent decades Congress gradually surrendered war-making powers to the president.—
Robert Jimison,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
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The school board, backed by other parents, had argued that opt-out provisions were impractical.—
Nina Totenberg,
NPR,
27 June 2025
Noun
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The simmering dispute comes as protesters showed up at Dodger Stadium on Thursday to decry Dodgers’ silence amidst immigration raids and unrest in Los Angeles.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
21 June 2025
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News to Know Wisconsin lawsuit accuses Miami of tampering In the latest legal dispute amid the changing landscape of college sports, the University of Wisconsin filed a lawsuit against the University of Miami yesterday for allegedly tampering with a football player.—
and Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
21 June 2025
Verb
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The fire has been fought by 16 engines, seven water tenders, three dozers and three hand crews.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
26 June 2025
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The city argued the policy was confidential, and would interfere with the department’s ability to fight crime.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 June 2025
Noun
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The changes come amid several controversies facing the Texas Lottery in recent years, particularly on the issue of courier purchases.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
25 June 2025
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Red Bull team boss Christian Horner revealed what has changed in Formula 1 over his 20 years in the sport amid the sport's drama and controversies.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
Verb
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The border state had been rife with turmoil as secessionists street brawled with unionists about whose side Maryland should join.—
Zaakir Tameez
June 11,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2025
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When the Giants brawled with each other last Thursday, some NFL sources marveled that the Giants were even practicing hard enough to prompt a fight during OTAs, which are voluntary spring practices used to acclimate teams for the summer grind of training camp.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
10 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spat. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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