as in arguing
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!
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bickering
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
Giving every child an indexed stake in the economy at birth is a rare example of a policy that compounds while politicians are bickering.
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
The prosecutor told jurors that Flores had been bickering with and mocking the man, who was heavily restrained and moving slowly, while escorting him to a courthouse holding cell after the man had a court hearing last August.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bickering
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
Giving every child an indexed stake in the economy at birth is a rare example of a policy that compounds while politicians are bickering.
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
The prosecutor told jurors that Flores had been bickering with and mocking the man, who was heavily restrained and moving slowly, while escorting him to a courthouse holding cell after the man had a court hearing last August.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bickering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bickering
Verb
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The group sued top Missouri state officials and lawmakers in October, arguing the ballot measure, called Amendment 4, misled voters by burying its true intent — the direct democracy overhaul — under other bullet points.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
20 Feb. 2026
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The government defended the tariffs as legitimate responses to national security concerns and unfair trade practices, arguing that Congress had clearly intended to give presidents latitude to act swiftly.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Her father, after quarreling with Antigone’s mother, locked her out of their house overnight, which led to a terrible accident.—
Rachel Vorona Cote,
The Atlantic,
5 Jan. 2026
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Lydon’s revelation comes after years of quarreling with guitarist Steve Jones, bassist Glen Matlock, and drummer Paul Cook.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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My entire career has been dedicated to fighting crime, upholding the law, and protecting Texans—experience no other candidate can match.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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Such a marathon is not unlike long weeks spent on the road competing, constantly fighting jet lag, and navigating limited options for fueling meals ahead of game time.—
Kayla Blanton,
Outside,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That’s not because its member countries have suddenly stopped squabbling or its bureaucratic inertia has melted away.—
Joseph de Weck,
The Atlantic,
17 Feb. 2026
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Hulu Sometimes, after a long day at work, there's nothing more comforting than watching a bunch of richer-than-rich investors squabbling over the inventions of eager entrepreneurs.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Another common misstep is ignoring undertones, which can result in clashing colors that disrupt the overall harmony of your exterior.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
19 Feb. 2026
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After the shooting, a large crowd quickly formed at the scene, with demonstrators clashing with law enforcement into the early morning hours.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Videos recorded at the scene appeared to show Danis brawling with Abubakar Nurmagomedov and Magomed Zaynukov, both teammates of Makhachev.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
16 Nov. 2025
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McGuane also reminded me that Hemingway was, to put it politely, a complicated personality, a domineering figure prone to brawling, affairs, and cask-strength egoism.—
Tyler Austin Harper,
The Atlantic,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Traditional barnstorming, air wars and social media fights have marked contentious GOP wrangling in Texas’ marquee race.—
Joseph Morton,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Feb. 2026
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Filmmakers, artisans and creatives must balance their time between making art and completing busywork, such as reviewing feedback, wrangling files and sharing footage with stakeholders.—
Caitlin White,
Variety,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bickering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bickering. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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