1
2

Synonym Chooser

How is the word quarrelsome distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of quarrelsome are bellicose, belligerent, contentious, and pugnacious. While all these words mean "having an aggressive or fighting attitude," quarrelsome stresses an ill-natured readiness to fight without good cause.

the heat made us all quarrelsome

When might bellicose be a better fit than quarrelsome?

The words bellicose and quarrelsome can be used in similar contexts, but bellicose suggests a disposition to fight.

a drunk in a bellicose mood

In what contexts can belligerent take the place of quarrelsome?

Although the words belligerent and quarrelsome have much in common, belligerent often implies being actually at war or engaged in hostilities.

belligerent nations

When is it sensible to use contentious instead of quarrelsome?

While the synonyms contentious and quarrelsome are close in meaning, contentious implies perverse and irritating fondness for arguing and quarreling.

wearied by his contentious disposition

When can pugnacious be used instead of quarrelsome?

In some situations, the words pugnacious and quarrelsome are roughly equivalent. However, pugnacious suggests a disposition that takes pleasure in personal combat.

a pugnacious gangster

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 quarrelsome Stereophonic could be called a workplace drama, a quarrelsome family play or even an extended hangout, as much a vibe as a story. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019 The romantic pentagon’s members are quarrelsome, foolish, and discombobulated by the passage of time—characters often describe themselves as being a bore or a burden, or as having missed their moment. Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024 The battlegrounds have also multiplied, from a few notoriously quarrelsome parent councils to traditionally peaceful spots around the city. Troy Closson, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024 The almost too-perfect sibling rivalry storyline marched on following the release of 2001’s Lions and a joint tour with fellow famously quarrelsome brother duo Oasis — winkingly called the Tour of Brotherly Love — after which the Crowes went on hiatus in 2002. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019 See All Example Sentences for quarrelsome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quarrelsome
Adjective
  • However, thanks to aggressive conservation efforts, including predator control programs, habitat restoration, and breeding initiatives, several kiwi species have seen rebounds.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
  • Even so, the aggressive play in this post-season has stood out.
    Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 11 May 2025
Adjective
  • This is a flawed sin; trying to make something happen in a contentious area with a bunch of people who had their own history.
    Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025
  • On contentious problems like TikTok’s status in America, Trump has already bucked political orthodoxy, delaying a ban repeatedly to convince China to allow its sale.
    J. Tedford Tyler, Time, 17 May 2025
Adjective
  • Israel blames civilian casualties on Hamas because the militant group operates from civilian areas.
    Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2025
  • Saturday's summit comes two months after Israel ended a ceasefire reached with the Hamas militant group in January.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • Customer interest surged after a (controversial) quantum supremacy claim and Jülich sale.
    Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
  • Newsrooms fracture over publishing controversial views.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • And Marguerite did actually manage to live there for years, scraping together a life on the hostile tundra.
    The Atlantic, The Atlantic, 15 May 2025
  • And this is a very hard-line government that has taken a kind of hostile view of everybody in the region.
    Obed Manuel, NPR, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Get The Recipe Smart Move Similar recipes with beans and peas existed before then, but a challenge made to a stubborn chef named Helen Corbitt spurred the creation of Texas caviar.
    Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 17 May 2025
  • When tragedy strikes on Michigan roads—when a car skids off an icy bend or a semi-truck barrels through a red light—victims are often left to face not only devastating injuries but also a daunting legal maze of corporate denials and stubborn insurers.
    William Jones, USA Today, 17 May 2025
Adjective
  • It is believed to reduce pain and inflammation, and has been used for treatment of back pain, high blood pressure, arthritis, migraines, and irritable bowel disease.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2025
  • And even in what was a stilted match played in an increasingly irritable atmosphere, Rogers and Tielemans delivered with an assist each.
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Welker’s belligerent attitude set the tone for the interview.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 May 2025
  • There was a woman who’d fallen asleep in her car, a belligerent guy with a dog, a Range Rover driving the wrong way.
    Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 5 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Quarrelsome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quarrelsome. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on quarrelsome

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!