1
as in discussion
an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue
wouldn't be a cricket match without a little argy-bargy over the umpire's every call
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2
as in quarrel
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
the perennial argy-bargy over whether the monarchy should be abolished
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Recent Examples of argy-bargy
Perhaps this explains why there was none of the needle associated with those recent encounters, including the Carabao Cup first-round clash in August 2024 that again ended in a bout of argy-bargy sparked by a 92nd-minute clash between Sydie Peck and Jack Marriott.
—
Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2026
Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for argy-bargy
Noun
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Araghchi said Russia’s proposal was not currently under active discussion, but could be revisited.—
Sheikh Saaliq,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
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After four seasons, Lawrence left Spin City when Fox did and went on to create Scrubs at NBC, a series that often gets lost in discussions of how TV comedy evolved in the aughts.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
16 May 2026
Noun
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In a 2024 study, researchers found that chimpanzee mothers tended to step in to defend their children in quarrels—say, over food or space in a tree—in about half of cases the researchers observed in the wild.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
10 May 2026
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As the trio quarrels, bonds and ventures through the wild unknown, Felix discovers that true bravery may change not only his own destiny, but also the future of his home.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
10 May 2026
Noun
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As tensions rise between the United States and China over trade, technology, Taiwan and military influence, the relationship between the world’s two largest economies is increasingly shaping global politics and national security debates.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
15 May 2026
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While the first debate, hosted by Nexstar on April 22, was relatively calm, the subsequent three debates were more chaotic, often serving as an opportunity for candidates to lob accusations at one another.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Noun
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The dispute has also been tied to retention, with discontent feeding concerns that talent may leave for SK Hynix, Samsung’s aggressive memory rival.—
Ron Schmelzer,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
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There is no formal system for resolving disputes over impressions, and performers often avoid escalating them publicly — Hammond among them.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
Noun
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Many also offer free or low-cost initial consultations, but acting quickly matters.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
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In addition to her daily schedule of operations and consultations, there are interns to train and a clinic renovation to oversee.—
Jon Frosch,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Noun
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Video footage appeared to show Pretti recording the agents on his phone before a physical altercation began.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
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During the altercation, police said the male victim produced a firearm and fired a single round.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Noun
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The next steps are psychological consults, a physical exam, uterine evaluation and blood work.—
Ann Marie Luft,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
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Tirias Research tracks and consults for companies throughout the electronics ecosystem from semiconductors to systems and sensors to the cloud.—
Francis Sideco,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Public safety dominated the exchange, with sharp disagreements over crime trends, law enforcement authority and the role sheriffs should play in statewide policy.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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In addition, this legislation could provide leaders with protection on state laws pertaining to NIL, which has led to lawsuits and a plethora of disagreements.—
Trey Wallace,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Argy-bargy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/argy-bargy. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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