as in disputes
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
judging from all the slamming and banging, I'd say there was some sort of altercation going on next door
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of altercations
He’s also been involved in multiple public altercations and legal disputes, including a 2018 arrest over a parking spot dispute in New York City.
—
Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Many of the people devouring YoungBoy’s endless stream of new music have also been devouring news of his various altercations and legal cases.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2025
Hubert Mazur, Ray Collins and Jocelyne Robledo were also detained at the protests after engaging in physical altercations with federal officers, according to the court documents.
—Mason Leath, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2025
Across Jefferson County Public Schools, the ban is being credited for an uptick in library books being checked out, an increase in student participation and a decrease in altercations.
—Krista Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Sep. 2025
According to the study, tailgating and verbal altercations are down 24% and 17%, respectively, since that time, but cutting vehicles off and honking out of anger are both up 67% and 47%, respectively.
—Stuart Dyos, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
The citations and altercations came to a head on June 2, Daniels said, when Del Toro called Lee’s Summit police to break up a last-day-of-school barbecue that Daniels was hosting for some other families.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
The omission was wrong — whether or not it was related to those altercations — as was the employee’s failure to understand that this is not a business occasion.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 15 Sep. 2025
Following the altercations, Outside spoke with a dog behavioral expert for insight into what triggers our trail comrades and how best to respond during stressful situations.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 15 Sep. 2025
Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Many of the people devouring YoungBoy’s endless stream of new music have also been devouring news of his various altercations and legal cases.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2025
Hubert Mazur, Ray Collins and Jocelyne Robledo were also detained at the protests after engaging in physical altercations with federal officers, according to the court documents.
—Mason Leath, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2025
Across Jefferson County Public Schools, the ban is being credited for an uptick in library books being checked out, an increase in student participation and a decrease in altercations.
—Krista Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Sep. 2025
According to the study, tailgating and verbal altercations are down 24% and 17%, respectively, since that time, but cutting vehicles off and honking out of anger are both up 67% and 47%, respectively.
—Stuart Dyos, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
The citations and altercations came to a head on June 2, Daniels said, when Del Toro called Lee’s Summit police to break up a last-day-of-school barbecue that Daniels was hosting for some other families.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
The omission was wrong — whether or not it was related to those altercations — as was the employee’s failure to understand that this is not a business occasion.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 15 Sep. 2025
Following the altercations, Outside spoke with a dog behavioral expert for insight into what triggers our trail comrades and how best to respond during stressful situations.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for altercations
Noun
-
The town had burned to the ground, and most of the Spanish settlers were dead, either of disease or in violent disputes about gold with indigenous peoples.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Some residents, like Leiva, consider Santa Rosa to be a paradise where international disputes feel more distant than the power of the river.—
Isa Cardona,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Members of Congress are entrenched in disagreements over health care policy with little bipartisanship on the horizon.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
26 Oct. 2025
-
The dispute could affect billions of dollars in cross-border trade and set a new precedent for handling disagreements over the use of public figures and historic addresses in political messaging.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The woman said they are getting used to one another, but, luckily, there have been no fights.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Filmmaking is nitpicking, anxiety, fights, claustrophobia, exhaustion, euphoria.—
Susan Sontag,
Vogue,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
While the band is preparing for its return to the spotlight, past controversies continue to follow them.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
26 Oct. 2025
-
However, this new poll indicates that at least among young voters, controversies tied to extremist symbols may not turn the dial with their loyalties, highlighting a potential limit of the impact of scandals in modern campaigns and a potential shift in political tolerance.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Hip-Hop has equally thrived on legendary quarrels and strong relationships.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
However, lovers’ quarrels or difficulty dealing with children (hissy fits or meltdowns) might occur.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The onset of the Great Depression, which hit Germany’s fragile economy harder than most, heralded a rapid rise in street brawls among these groups.—
Time,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Every week provides viral moments captured on cellphones of sports fans behaving badly, often erupting into life-altering brawls and chaos.—
Ed Lavandera,
CNN Money,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Now, the case will at least proceed to oral arguments, which are likely to take place in January.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The court announcements come as the high court prepares for arguments in several high-profile cases.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Halsey continued by saying a lot of people who are bipolar remain undiagnosed because of these misunderstandings.—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Shane Hubbard, a UW-Madison research scientist specializing in damage and loss estimation from disasters, said that misunderstandings of what type of insurance offers the most protection result in homeowners being left with hefty bills and little government assistance.—
Tamia Fowlkes,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Altercations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/altercations. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share