ALTERCATE Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

altercate

verb

ˈȯl-tər-ˌkāt

Definition of altercate

as in to bicker

to express different opinions about something often angrily this discussion is so silly we might as well altercate on how many angels can dance on the point of a needle

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for altercate

Verb

After bickering with Percy over her involvement in the mission, Thalia ultimately drives away from the scene.

— Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 23 July 2026
Establishment figures such as Jeffries and the party’s 2028 presidential candidates will need to grasp that the relationship between the DSA and the Democratic Party is not one of occasionally bickering siblings, but of parasite and host.

— James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026

Definition of bicker

Verb

On the other hand, some argue that Fed officials spoke too frequently about the economy in the past.

— Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 27 July 2026
Jon Moxley argued with a conflicted Will Ospreay as Ospreay struggled to find a killer instinct and pull the trigger on his ailing friend.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Definition of argue

Verb

If your body has been asking you in a few ways to slow down (like feeling a cough coming on, or a tiredness that won’t shake off), stop fighting against what your body or heart is trying to tell you.

— Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Aug. 2026
Only one helicopter was able to scoop water from the sea to fight the blaze.

— Mark Carlson, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026

Definition of fight

Verb

After their return to the Negev Lot and Abraham both have large flocks of livestock, but their herders begin to quarrel.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026
In fact, Twain might well have quarreled with the whole premise of celebrating America’s 250th birthday.

— Ron Chernow, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026

Definition of quarrel

Verb

Mulroney, Ackerman, Snow, and Newman turn this story of spatting WAGS into an explosive, addictive watch.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2025
Preparation has cultural and regional variations, but the seed is usually chewed with slaked lime and betel leaves, and chewing releases a red juice that's often then spat out.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Aug. 2025

Definition of spat

Verb

The Biden administration previously said Ortega illegitimately awarded himself another term following Nicaragua’s disputed 2021 presidential election.

— Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026
Nicaragua’s last election in 2021 was widely disputed after Ortega detained opponents and business leaders and criminalized dissent.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 21 July 2026

Definition of dispute

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

alterations

altercate

altercated

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“Altercate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/altercate. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of altercate

verb

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