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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for altercate
Verb
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Whereas The Late Show’s prior steward, David Letterman, was happier to playfully bicker with guests, his successor took a surprisingly heady path.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026 -
Since then, showrunner Tim Minear and the rest of the writers have played up the actors' natural chemistry, playing into both the characters' bickering dynamic and their willingness to do anything, including risking their lives, for one another.—
Sabienna Bowman,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Anyone seriously arguing now that money wasn't a major or even the decisive factor here?—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
19 May 2026
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At the civil trial, plaintiffs argued Parker failed to properly investigate the reports of the gun.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
Verb
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The city’s directors have apparently decided that if crowns are going to be fought over, audiences might as well sweat a little, too.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
22 May 2026
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Ada County Sheriff Matt Clifford, who fought against mandatory ICE cooperation legislation this spring, is now preparing to voluntarily sign a 287(g) agreement for the warrant service officer program with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.—
Chadd Cripe. Produced with AI assistance,
Idaho Statesman,
22 May 2026
Verb
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Now might not seem the moment for Democrats to be quarrelling, but many of them believe that the only way to build the Party back up is to remake it.—
Amy Davidson Sorkin,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
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The lack of money has, at times, led to quarrelling between the services - most notably pitting the navy against the army and the Royal Air Force.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Their startup, known as Uber, initially clawed its way to success with a growth-at-all-costs strategy that sometimes involved operating without municipal consent, ignoring court orders and clashing with local regulations.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2026
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Higher petrol costs have sparked deadly protests and strikes across Africa, with demonstrators in Comoros, Kenya, and Mozambique clashing with authorities in recent days.—
Semafor Events,
semafor.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
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Callie and Arizona: Another couple spatting over kids.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
9 Oct. 2025
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Mulroney, Ackerman, Snow, and Newman turn this story of spatting WAGS into an explosive, addictive watch.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Some early claims were also disputed or withdrawn, adding to the scrutiny surrounding the issue.—
Laura Trujillo,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
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Though its origins are disputed, artists from across the world have adopted the aesthetic, offering creative takes that go from hyperrealistic to surreal to playful and bright.—
Diana Tsui,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
Verb
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This game is the ultimate in brawling adventure.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
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The weird thing is that Becerra does know how to brawl.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Altercate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/altercate. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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