quarrel implies heated verbal contention, stressing strained or severed relations which may persist beyond the contention.
a quarrel nearly destroyed the relationship
wrangle suggests undignified and often futile disputation with a noisy insistence on differing opinions.
wrangle interminably about small issues
altercation implies fighting with words as the chief weapon, although it may also connote blows.
a loud public altercation
squabble stresses childish and unseemly dispute over petty matters, but it need not imply bitterness or anger.
a brief squabble over what to do next
Examples of squabble in a Sentence
Noun
frightened by noise of the squabble, the cat hid under the couch Verb
The children were squabbling over the toys.
the children squabbled loudly over who got to play with the toy first
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Noun
His career is an interesting case study, raising questions about how well universities can monitor professors' research output and manage the interdepartmental squabbles that can sprout up on campuses.—Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025 At the center of the timecard squabble is the November 2024 arrest of Deputy Sheriff’s Association President Carlos Tapia.—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
Pinking, bluing, both at once, as if two birds were squabbling over the nest of sky.—Literary Hub, 8 Aug. 2025 That broke the 7 hour, 24 minute record set just two weeks earlier as Republicans squabbled ahead of passing Trump’s tax and spending megabill.—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 18 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for squabble
Word History
Etymology
Noun
probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish dialect skvabbel dispute
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