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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of spat
Michael Teo Van Runkle, ArsTechnica, 30 May 2025
The rallying cry by McAfee, a former Indianapolis Colts punter, further perpetuated the small city vs. big city spat that has hung over the Knicks-Pacers rivalry since their frequent playoff bouts in the 1990s.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 29 May 2025
Liam Stack, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2023
South Carolina was on the east bank and Georgia on the west; the temperature was in the fifties, and gray clouds spat water in our faces.
—Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 21 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for spat
Noun
This freed up more space for additional cooling via the front fascia, which further benefits from canard spat dive planes.
—Michael Teo Van Runkle, ArsTechnica, 30 May 2025
The rallying cry by McAfee, a former Indianapolis Colts punter, further perpetuated the small city vs. big city spat that has hung over the Knicks-Pacers rivalry since their frequent playoff bouts in the 1990s.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 29 May 2025
Verb
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
South Carolina was on the east bank and Georgia on the west; the temperature was in the fifties, and gray clouds spat water in our faces.
—Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 21 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for spat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spat
Noun
-
This wasn’t the first altercation to take place at one of Beyoncé’s recent shows.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
7 June 2025
-
The jail altercation has since escalated into a wider conflict between the Sheriff’s Office and the Broward State Attorney’s Office.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
7 June 2025
Verb
-
There’s a genuine brother-and-sister warmth between the Andy and Piper characters in Bring Her Back — and plenty of sibling bickering too.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
30 May 2025
-
Yet a design challenge is a smart choice to assign this particular group of queens because that means locking them in the workroom to bicker between assembling garments.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
23 May 2025
Noun
-
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
-
The whole saga, with Zelenskyy risking U.S. support through his quarrel with Trump before ultimately backing down, demonstrates how unprepared the Ukrainian leader was to engage with the new administration.—
Evan Nierman,
Baltimore Sun,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Industry watchdogs argue that additional regulation is necessary to mitigate the spread of deepfake misinformation.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
3 June 2025
-
Debates over existing recommendations Administration officials argue the shots are no longer necessary for healthy pregnant women, kids and younger adults under 65 because so many people have so much immunity at this point.—
Rob Stein,
NPR,
3 June 2025
Noun
-
Phan was convicted of shooting up a high school graduation party after a dispute, killing an 18-year-old and a 15-year-old.—
Greg Wehner , Bill Melugin,
FOXNews.com,
9 June 2025
-
Officials from the United States and China met in London to talk about a range of different disputes that are separating them.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
Verb
-
Holland has been one of the more active UFC competitors since losing that contest by decision, fighting at middleweight and welterweight.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
-
Only 14 of them are routinely available to fight brush fires, The Times previously reported.—
Alene Tchekmedyian,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2025
Noun
-
However, California is far from the only state that saw its girls' track and field championships overshadowed by trans athlete controversy.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2025
-
Salgado’s pictures were also freighted with their fair share of controversy.—
Chris Wiley,
New Yorker,
31 May 2025
Verb
-
The scene at Pop Mart stores can also be chaotic, as some TikTok users have posted videos depicting customers brawling and yelling at one another over the viral toys.—
Conor Murray,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
-
The two continued brawling down the block on Baychester Ave., where the victim pulled out a knife and the suspect opened fire, a police source said.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spat. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share