quarrel 1 of 2

quarrel

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun quarrel contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of quarrel are altercation, squabble, and wrangle. While all these words mean "a noisy dispute usually marked by anger," quarrel implies heated verbal contention, stressing strained or severed relations which may persist beyond the contention.

a quarrel nearly destroyed the relationship

When would altercation be a good substitute for quarrel?

The words altercation and quarrel can be used in similar contexts, but altercation implies fighting with words as the chief weapon, although it may also connote blows.

a loud public altercation

When can squabble be used instead of quarrel?

The synonyms squabble and quarrel are sometimes interchangeable, but squabble stresses childish and unseemly dispute over petty matters, but it need not imply bitterness or anger.

a brief squabble over what to do next

When is it sensible to use wrangle instead of quarrel?

While the synonyms wrangle and quarrel are close in meaning, wrangle suggests undignified and often futile disputation with a noisy insistence on differing opinions.

wrangle interminably about small issues

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 quarrel
Noun
All three condemned the pressure tactics Trump used in the aftermath of his Oval Office quarrel with Zelensky. Tamar Jacoby, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025 Paramount Pictures Cohen et al. give a shoutout in their introduction to Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels, specifically the longstanding quarrel between the people of Lilliput and Blefuscu on the best orientation for cracking an egg. Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 26 May 2025
Verb
Secretary of State Marco Rubio thanked DOGE for pushing cuts to USAID after media reports of quarreling between him and Elon Musk. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2025 The report from the Jewish civil rights group comes amid broader tension among users and observers of the online encyclopedia over how the Israel-Hamas war should be covered on the site, with editors quarrelling over how to describe events related to the conflict. Clare Duffy, CNN, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for quarrel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quarrel
Noun
  • The simmering dispute comes as protesters showed up at Dodger Stadium on Thursday to decry Dodgers’ silence amidst immigration raids and unrest in Los Angeles.
    Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 21 June 2025
  • News to Know Wisconsin lawsuit accuses Miami of tampering In the latest legal dispute amid the changing landscape of college sports, the University of Wisconsin filed a lawsuit against the University of Miami yesterday for allegedly tampering with a football player.
    and Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 21 June 2025
Verb
  • In 2012, surviving members of the Beach Boys reunited for a 50th anniversary album, which quickly hit the Top 10 before the group again bickered and separated.
    CBS News, CBS News, 11 June 2025
  • Vance memes, framing the vice president as the troubled child of bickering parents.
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Noun
  • Santana declined to discuss specifics of what prompted the altercation.
    Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2025
  • Santana said the altercation took place somewhere around the seventh inning.
    Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • Democrats, led by Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, had argued that in recent decades Congress gradually surrendered war-making powers to the president.
    Robert Jimison, New York Times, 28 June 2025
  • The school board, backed by other parents, had argued that opt-out provisions were impractical.
    Nina Totenberg, NPR, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • For decades, Kahneman and Gary Klein, a psychologist who researches naturalistic decision-making, had a running disagreement about whether human intuition could be trusted.
    Gabriel Snyder, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
  • Though the talks fell apart over disagreements on what measures North Korea would take toward disarmament and Trump’s reluctance to offer sanctions relief, the summits ended on a surprisingly hopeful note, with the two leaders walking away as pen pals.
    Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • The city argued the policy was confidential, and would interfere with the department’s ability to fight crime.
    Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 June 2025
  • The fire has been fought by 16 engines, seven water tenders, three dozers and three hand crews.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • The changes come amid several controversies facing the Texas Lottery in recent years, particularly on the issue of courier purchases.
    Melina Khan, USA Today, 25 June 2025
  • The original, shot by Bryce Anderson, drew a lot of attention and controversy, with many critiquing the image as a provocative and degrading towards women.
    Thania Garcia, Variety, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • The first is that when U.S. soldiers returned from the war there, protesters spat upon them in disdain.
    Jonathan Zimmerman, Foreign Affairs, 19 May 2016
  • The flare comes after nearly a week of flares and coronal plasma ejections spat toward the planet that threatened disruptions to power and communications systems on Earth.
    Greg Wehner, Fox News, 15 May 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Quarrel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quarrel. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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