variants
or quarrelled
as in bickered
to express different opinions about something often angrily
the coach and the referee quarreled about whether the ball was in bounds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 quarreled
For the past seven months, SDC has quarreled with state officials and lawmakers over its community action agency title.
—
Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 26 Nov. 2025
Rhoden's biggest political victory this year was getting the state Legislature to sign off on a $650 million plan in September to replace the 141-year-old state penitentiary, an issue the Legislature had quarreled over for years.
—CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025
Mayor Sue Finkam found the dollars to quell many concerns from city councilors about the budget, but officials still quarreled over the transparency of some dollars earmarked for Carmel’s legal department.
—Jake Allen, IndyStar, 22 Oct. 2025
Franklin’s son and grandson quarreled.
—Stacy Schiff, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
Most had quarrelled with someone right before the act.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Bangkok and Phnom Penh have quarreled for decades over undemarcated parts of their 508-mile land border, which was first mapped by France in 1907 when Cambodia was its colony.
—Reuters, NBC news, 10 Aug. 2025
As a couple, Erin, who runs an equestrian center at her home in Reno, and Serafini, who since 2017 had worked as an equipment operator at a remote Nevada gold mine, often quarreled with Gary and Wendy.
—Chris Spargo, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 26 Nov. 2025
Rhoden's biggest political victory this year was getting the state Legislature to sign off on a $650 million plan in September to replace the 141-year-old state penitentiary, an issue the Legislature had quarreled over for years.
—CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025
Mayor Sue Finkam found the dollars to quell many concerns from city councilors about the budget, but officials still quarreled over the transparency of some dollars earmarked for Carmel’s legal department.
—Jake Allen, IndyStar, 22 Oct. 2025
Franklin’s son and grandson quarreled.
—Stacy Schiff, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
Most had quarrelled with someone right before the act.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Bangkok and Phnom Penh have quarreled for decades over undemarcated parts of their 508-mile land border, which was first mapped by France in 1907 when Cambodia was its colony.
—Reuters, NBC news, 10 Aug. 2025
As a couple, Erin, who runs an equestrian center at her home in Reno, and Serafini, who since 2017 had worked as an equipment operator at a remote Nevada gold mine, often quarreled with Gary and Wendy.
—Chris Spargo, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quarreled
Verb
-
The actors jokingly bickered about their history with the ceremony, with Cheadle remarking that Clooney hadn’t won since 2026 winner Timothée Chalamet was 3 years old.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
11 Jan. 2026
-
On 33 occasions since 2017, Congress has been forced to pass emergency extensions to the flood insurance program, as lawmakers bickered over budgets and looming shutdowns threatened to disrupt it, according to a letter the National Association of Realtors sent to Congress ahead of the shutdown.—
Rukmini Callimachi,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Critics argued that the hotel industry was already faced with the minimum wage changes and low demand, and increasing taxes by any amount could send tourists to competing hotels in nearby cities.—
Sandra McDonald,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
In a 2014 editorial, the Times argued the federal ban on the drug should be repealed, and the decision should be left up to the individual states.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
My great-great-grandfather fought in the Civil War for the Wisconsin 11th Infantry to achieve the American dream.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
6 Feb. 2026
-
As Colorado celebrates 150 years of statehood this year, historians are sharing how Black community leaders here fought to secure voting rights for people across our nation.—
Anna Alejo,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Trump has clashed in particular Bad Bunny, one of the most popular musicians in the world, who supported former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.—
Seth Jacobson,
The Providence Journal,
8 Feb. 2026
-
For years, efforts to protect the preserve have clashed with those who want to freely experience Del Mar Mesa and its trails.—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Quarreled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quarreled. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
