bickering

Definition of bickeringnext
present participle of bicker

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 bickering Establishment figures such as Jeffries and the party’s 2028 presidential candidates will need to grasp that the relationship between the DSA and the Democratic Party is not one of occasionally bickering siblings, but of parasite and host. James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026 Several weeks back, Clark and White were caught bickering during a timeout huddle against the expansion Portland Fire. Candace Buckner, New York Times, 27 June 2026 The plot centers on bickering couple Joe and Angela, who invite their noisy upstairs neighbors, Hawk and Piña, for dinner. Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 The emotional distress may have stemmed from the family's extended trip together and bickering, his mother told USA TODAY on June 3. Saleen Martin, USA Today, 3 June 2026 While the concrete cured, the starting eight matches of the first-ever World Cup were relocated to Pocitos and Gran Parque Central, the home grounds of capital rivals Peñarol and Nacional, who'd been bickering since their first meeting in July 1900. Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 May 2026 SpaceX and the Pentagon have been bickering about the price of using Starshield satellite service during the Iran war, according to a Reuters report published today. ArsTechnica, 26 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 The two get to bickering about her terrible track record, with Dennis hilariously failing to realize that this accusation includes him among the questionable men. Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bickering
Verb
  • On July 28, Mark Zuckerberg published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal arguing that superintelligence should be distributed as widely as possible and that concentrating it in a handful of institutions is the greatest risk AI poses to humanity.
    Anisha Sircar, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • That was, frankly, ridiculous, and our coverage said as much, arguing that this deep dive into one of Hollywood’s most notorious genre disasters deserved a much wider release.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
  • Knight has spent much of his main roster run accusing Reigns and the Bloodline of using strength in numbers without fighting fair fights.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Last week, two firefighters died fighting a fire on Crete and a third was killed in the Peloponnese.
    Elena Becatoros, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The Greek myths are rife with petty and meddlesome deities squabbling, playing favorites, punishing harshly, and otherwise wreaking havoc on the lives of mortal men.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 17 July 2026
  • The actor ended up calling attention to his own hat after squabbling with cast member Sarah Sherman — who, to match the country singer's vibe, pulled up in a cowboy hat, leaving Gosling as the odd man out.
    Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • The main event between top babyfaces Rhodes and Punk, while a compelling narrative, highlighted a repetitive formula of popular heroes clashing for world titles.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The border crisis boiled over Thursday and continued Friday with security forces clashing with migrants on the Moroccan side of the border.
    Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 31 July 2026
Verb
  • What turns him on is cryptic babes, brawling men and stagy fables of lust, rivalry and possession.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
  • English soccer fans have earned a reputation for violent hooliganism, hurling plastic chairs and brawling their way across the piazzas and boulevards of Europe.
    Alexander Smith, NBC news, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • Once again, Overton was in the middle of wrangling between the White House and HHS.
    Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
  • Unfortunately, wrangling woodland creatures is completely different than ghost hunting, something Kesha is a pro at.
    Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 21 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bickering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bickering. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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