as in altercation
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
like any couple, they have their spats
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to bicker
to express different opinions about something often angrily
we tend to spat over money more than anything else
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of spat
Alana Wise, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
Signalling another possible spat, Taiwan this week vowed to resist pressure from Washington to shift half of its chip production capacity to the United States, following comments from US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
Kareem Khadder, CNN, 4 Oct. 2023
The teenager first asked the hotel to forgive him, the lawsuit said, but soon flew into a rage, screaming that the hotel was antisemitic and that its employees spat in people’s food.
—Liam Stack, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for spat
Noun
States step in and donations for some relief Several states have taken it into their own hands to see to it that their parks remain open during the federal funding spat, either directly funding the sites themselves or collecting third-party relief to help keep the doors open.
—Alana Wise, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
Signalling another possible spat, Taiwan this week vowed to resist pressure from Washington to shift half of its chip production capacity to the United States, following comments from US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
The one charged with assault spat on a person, while the others spat towards people, police said to explain the different charges.
—Kareem Khadder, CNN, 4 Oct. 2023
The teenager first asked the hotel to forgive him, the lawsuit said, but soon flew into a rage, screaming that the hotel was antisemitic and that its employees spat in people’s food.
—Liam Stack, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for spat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spat
Noun
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Branch is likely going to get a fine for his role in the altercation with a possible suspension coming too.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
13 Oct. 2025
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The altercation between Branch and Smith-Schuster started a brawl, with multiple players on each team getting into the fight.—
Jordan Sigler,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The pair bicker and bond their way through the whimsical Panda Kingdom, a vibrant world that blends the everyday with the extraordinary, carrying animals and humans alike into something at once magical and mundane.—
Ben Croll,
Variety,
11 Oct. 2025
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Roberts and Tim Robbins play American journalists in Paris who lose their luggage and bicker over a hotel room and then wind up in bed together.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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While still unconfirmed, we’re told that the film sees Louise, the alcoholic mother of Mike (Hechinger) and Tommy, take off after a quarrel with her husband Lester — walking with her dog to the home of her brother Frank, quite a few miles away.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
14 Oct. 2025
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Hip-Hop has equally thrived on legendary quarrels and strong relationships.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Though the resentencing hearing would still proceed, Hochman’s office would argue against it in court.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
12 Oct. 2025
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The weapon system would allow Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory and put the sort of pressure on Putin that Zelenskyy argues is needed to get the Russians to seriously engage in peace talks.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Payment of the penalty isn’t required until after the dispute resolution process is complete, a state spokesperson said.—
Anjeanette Damon,
ProPublica,
10 Oct. 2025
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Other refinements could include a dispute resolution mechanism and a joint task force to assess project viability.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Davis was a civil rights lawyer who fought to desegregate public schools in Texas.—
Ciara McCarthy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Oct. 2025
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Among other resources, four engines have also been deployed to fight the wildfire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Her participation had already sparked controversy due to her past ballroom experience.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Oct. 2025
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The bill became a source of controversy in the Golden State, with celebrity chefs among those who rallied against the cookware ban, while environmental and health activists have argued for it.—
Rachel Frazin,
The Hill,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The soldiers’ pastimes of drinking, gambling, and brawling also offended many Bostonians, who retained the piety of their Pilgrim ancestors.—
Time,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
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How The Hardys Defeated DarkState Both teams brawled before the bell rang.—
Fernando Quiles Jr,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spat. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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