QUARRELING Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

quarreling

verb

variants or quarrelling

present participle of quarrel

as in bickering

to express different opinions about something often angrily the coach and the referee quarreled about whether the ball was in bounds

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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 quarreling In another clip, a student records himself quarreling with a teacher asking him to take out his notes. — Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 19 Aug. 2026 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 Police said witness accounts indicate that the couple arrived at Zuri Hotel in Zanzibar on April 4 and had been quarreling frequently until the night of April 8, when hotel management separated them and asked McCann to move to a separate villa about a 10-minute walk away. — ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026 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 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 The family is reportedly quarreling over Princess Beatrice and Eugenie’s royal roles after their father Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor had his titles taken away. — Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 13 Nov. 2025 The discovery was entirely by chance, and happened when an officer responded to Mirella's parents' residence after neighbors reported quarreling, per several outlets. — Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for quarreling

Verb

There’s striker Josie Gordon, bickering twin sisters Siobhan and Niamh, glove-shunning goalie Katie ‘Boots’ Quinn and couple Maddie and Margy.

— Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Back at the base, the team is still bickering with the other troopers.

— Andy Andersen, Vulture, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of bickering

Verb

Milei has rejected calls for government intervention, arguing that unpaid debts are a private matter between borrowers and lenders rather than a symptom of wider economic distress.

— Débora Rey, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Reddington said his first priority is arguing later this month that a retrial would violate Clancy's constitutional protection against double jeopardy because the mistrial was declared over the defense's objection.

— Bryan Llenas , Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of arguing

Verb

Muslim leaders and community members, in turn, told the USA TODAY Network they’re left fighting to defend their faith and warning the nation that its founding principles are at stake.

— BrieAnna J. Frank, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026
But Verstappen had enough to pull clear in the last few laps and grab third, with the McLaren drivers slowed fighting amongst themselves.

— Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026