squabble

1 of 2

noun

squab·​ble ˈskwä-bəl How to pronounce squabble (audio)
: a noisy altercation or quarrel usually over petty matters

squabble

2 of 2

verb

squabbled; squabbling ˈskwä-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce squabble (audio)

intransitive verb

: to quarrel noisily and usually over petty matters
squabbler noun
Choose the Right Synonym for squabble

quarrel, wrangle, altercation, squabble mean a noisy dispute usually marked by anger.

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
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Advertisement Advertisement Clearly a significant number of territorial squabbles exist simply to provide a jingoistic distraction, an excuse to rally around the flag or challenge the patriotism of a political rival. Charlie Campbell, Time, 25 July 2025 The squabble has dragged on for decades, flaring into bloody military clashes more than 15 years ago and again in May, when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a firefight. Chris Morris, Fortune, 24 July 2025
Verb
Cass has his own problems to deal with, though: He’s supposed to rendezvous on a forested planet with someone named Porco, but his disguise as an Imperial pilot works too well, and a group of squabbling sorta-rebels mistake him for the real thing. Jesse Hassenger, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2025 The Liars decided to burn down Clairmont to try and keep the family from squabbling over their fortunes and breaking apart, thinking it the symbol of Old World money. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for squabble

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish dialect skvabbel dispute

First Known Use

Noun

1602, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1604, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of squabble was in 1602

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Cite this Entry

“Squabble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squabble. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

squabble

1 of 2 noun
squab·​ble ˈskwäb-əl How to pronounce squabble (audio)
: a noisy quarrel usually over unimportant things

squabble

2 of 2 verb
squabbled; squabbling ˈskwäb-(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce squabble (audio)
: to quarrel noisily for little or no reason : wrangle
squabbler noun

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