squabble

1 of 2

noun

squab·​ble ˈskwä-bəl 

: a noisy altercation or quarrel usually over petty matters

squabble

2 of 2

verb

squabbled; squabbling ˈskwä-b(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

: to quarrel noisily and usually over petty matters

squabbler

ˈskwä-b(ə-)lər 

noun

Synonyms

Noun

• dispute
• quarrel
• altercation
• bicker
• disagreement
• controversy
• fight
• argument
• brawl

Verb

• bicker
• argue
• fight
• quarrel
• spat

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

Noun

Ultimately, lawmakers must look past the bureaucratic squabbles and politics to focus on the patients that these reforms will help. —Craig M. Wax, Boston Herald, 13 June 2025

The House floor squabble was not the only confrontation in the Capitol on Thursday: As Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) delivered remarks about the Padilla incident — endorsing censure for the senator — a string of House Democrats heckled the Speaker. —Emily Brooks, The Hill, 12 June 2025

Verb

That reunion dissolved when Brian and Mike Love once more squabbled, with the latter taking his own version of The Beach Boys — mainly him and Johnston — back on the road. —Roy Trakin, HollywoodReporter, 11 June 2025

Now turning to the Johnson case in Kentucky, where two candidates in the 2024 Republican primary for state attorney were squabbling over an endorsement by the local Fraternal Order of Police. —Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025

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

Rhymes for squabble

• bauble
• cobble
• gobble
• hobble
• labile
• wobble
• cantabile

Kids Definition

squabble

1 of 2 noun

squab·​ble ˈskwäb-əl 

: a noisy quarrel usually over unimportant things

squabble

2 of 2 verb

squabbled; squabbling ˈskwäb-(ə-)liŋ 

: to quarrel noisily for little or no reason : wrangle

squabbler

-(ə-)lər 

noun