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
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
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