LOCKED HORNS Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

locked horns

phrase

past tense of lock horns

as in bickered

to express different opinions about something often angrily Alan likes to locks horns with everyone, so don't take it personally.

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for locked horns

butted heads

Phrase

Ron Howard recalled working with John Wayne on 1976 film The Shootist, where the veteran actor butted heads with director Don Siegel.

— Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 17 July 2026
Newman lived down the hall from Jerry, and the two often butted heads, worsened by Newman’s participation in Kramer’s wild schemes.

— Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026

Definition of butted heads

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.

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locked

locked horns

locked out

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“Locked horns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/locked%20horns. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of locked horns

phrase

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