as in quarrel
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
after a prolonged bicker, they finally managed to find a movie that both of them were interested in seeing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to argue
to express different opinions about something often angrily
if you two don't stop bickering about where to go to eat, we're not going out at all!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 bicker
M. E. Sarotte, Foreign Affairs, 8 July 2024
Meanwhile, Esmeralda bickers with her daughter Jacqueline (Tenley Stitzer), who’s terrified of nuclear war and obsessed with rocker David Lee Roth.
—Celia Wren, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
Jay Harris, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
The Federal Reserve chair and the president stood stiffly, side by side, in matching hard hats, bickering on a building site, for all the world to see.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bicker
Noun
Better to follow the West German example and achieve full NATO membership for independent Ukraine than to watch essential U.S. support dwindle as Congress bickers and Trump’s reelection odds increase.
—M. E. Sarotte, Foreign Affairs, 8 July 2024
Meanwhile, Esmeralda bickers with her daughter Jacqueline (Tenley Stitzer), who’s terrified of nuclear war and obsessed with rocker David Lee Roth.
—Celia Wren, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
Verb
Someone on the bench started bickering with Cameroon’s first goalscorer, Junior Tchamadeu, during a break in play.
—Jay Harris, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
The Federal Reserve chair and the president stood stiffly, side by side, in matching hard hats, bickering on a building site, for all the world to see.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bicker
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bicker
Noun
-
Some of the quarrels that divided Minneapolis city leaders only a few weeks ago, over policing or Gaza or the budget, have faded as people have come together to oppose ICE.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
-
After all, this dispute is a business quarrel, rather than a personal one; while the lawsuit involves a college and a student, it’s better understood as a team trying to keep its star quarterback.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The opposition People Power Party, however, argues that the National Assembly must ratify the trade deal due to the exorbitant costs involved.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The overriding factor, Tait argued, is the global debt burden.—
Sean Lee,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The ruling advances Chiles toward resolving a dispute marked by errors that cost her the floor exercise bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Games.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The company added programmers’ streaming applications in Spectrum’s expanded basic packages to lower churn and had a slight bump in signups when Disney channels were unavailable for YouTube TV subscribers during a recent carriage dispute.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Graham, in particular, has been on a war path over the negotiations, accusing Republicans of not fighting hard enough to reclaim the narrative on immigration after the death of Alex Pretti last weekend.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Defense attorney Marilyn Bednarski said Lemon plans to plead innocent and fight the charges in Minnesota.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The episode has punctured Preckwinkle’s reputation for managerial skill — a primary reason this page has endorsed her in previous elections despite some disagreements with other aspects of her record.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Trump has demanded a resolution to the two countries’ long-standing disagreements about Iran’s nuclear ambitions.—
Vivian Salama,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Callie and Arizona: Another couple spatting over kids.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Mulroney, Ackerman, Snow, and Newman turn this story of spatting WAGS into an explosive, addictive watch.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
On Tuesday, Buda Mayor Lee Urbanovsky said city police were working with Hays CISD to collect witness statements and video evidence from students who were present during the altercation.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Feb. 2026
-
But there is a time and a place, and becoming embroiled in a physical altercation with a nightclub bouncer the night before leading your country in an international is neither the right time nor the right place.—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As the first book in Quinn’s ambitious, interconnected series, The Duke and I is tasked with introducing society matron Violet Bridgerton and her eight affectionate, squabbling children, as well as their many friends (and frenemies) in 1800s British high society.—
Sara Netzley,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Democrats and Republicans continued squabbling over the content of trade policy, but the protectionist impulse largely receded and was replaced by a consensus that lower trade barriers would support economic recovery and advance broader foreign policy goals.—
Inu Manak,
Time,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bicker.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bicker. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
