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
Ben Smith, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2025
More recently, the spat has spilled over to export controls over rare earth minerals.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 14 Oct. 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
Following Wall Street’s worst selloff since April on Friday, top US officials signaled openness to a trade deal with Beijing to resolve a fresh spat over rare earth exports.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2025
More recently, the spat has spilled over to export controls over rare earth minerals.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 14 Oct. 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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During the altercation, Lind drew a gun and fired off shots, killing Emma Borhanian, one of the Zizians.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Oct. 2025
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The investigation showed the incident began as a road rage event, initially a verbal altercation, involving the occupants of a pair of vehicles, the release states.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The pair bicker and bond their way through the whimsical Panda Kingdom, a vibrant world that blends the everyday with the extraordinary, carrying animals and humans alike into something at once magical and mundane.—
Ben Croll,
Variety,
11 Oct. 2025
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Roberts and Tim Robbins play American journalists in Paris who lose their luggage and bicker over a hotel room and then wind up in bed together.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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While still unconfirmed, we’re told that the film sees Louise, the alcoholic mother of Mike (Hechinger) and Tommy, take off after a quarrel with her husband Lester — walking with her dog to the home of her brother Frank, quite a few miles away.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
14 Oct. 2025
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Hip-Hop has equally thrived on legendary quarrels and strong relationships.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In fact, little of that story line, Androsoff argues, is backed up by historical evidence.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
20 Oct. 2025
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At the time, Cortese argued the tax was needed to address significant and growing budget challenges.—
Mercury News Editorial,
Mercury News,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Musk later cited the pay dispute as part of the reason why Tesla shifted its corporate home to Texas from Delaware.—
Kara Carlson,
Fortune,
17 Oct. 2025
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Here’s how a community dispute escalated into a deadly tragedy.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The line occurs when the film’s protagonist, Ripley (Weaver), emerges from an elevator in a giant metal bodysuit, ready to fight a terrifying alien to save a young child.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
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Season-long struggles; still fighting Charlotte has five games left on the schedule, starting with North Texas (6-1, 2-1 American) next Friday night on ESPN2.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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His political director quit the two-month-old campaign, and the candidate apologized — but now Platner is taking a rare, risky approach by leaning into the controversy.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
21 Oct. 2025
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Appointments follow months of policy controversy The appointments mark the next step taken by Sumner County conservatives to pass the controversial policy, which has seen substantial pushback for First Amendment concerns.—
Angele Latham,
Nashville Tennessean,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The soldiers’ pastimes of drinking, gambling, and brawling also offended many Bostonians, who retained the piety of their Pilgrim ancestors.—
Time,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
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How The Hardys Defeated DarkState Both teams brawled before the bell rang.—
Fernando Quiles Jr,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spat. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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