SPATS Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

spats 1 of 2

noun

plural of spat

as in quarrels

an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions like any couple, they have their spats

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spats

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of spat

as in bickers

to express different opinions about something often angrily we tend to spat over money more than anything else

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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 spats

Noun

Love, though, comes with spats and fits of temper, ruptures and reconciliations. — Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 9 July 2026 During his performance, the MC set aside time to share his thoughts on apparent spats with a few fellow rappers in a new freestyle. — Caché McClay, USA Today, 7 July 2026 Momoa, 46, opted for a three-piece suit, pairing it with spats, patent leather shoes, and a tank top, adding a simple pendant necklace. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 19 June 2026 Many fouls were committed, including physical altercations, reckless tackles, and verbal spats. — Andrew Pereira, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 June 2026 Harbour compared their contention to family spats. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 10 June 2026 Nowhere have such spats been more ironic than in Vance’s rebuke of the pope. — Matthew Smith, The Conversation, 8 June 2026 In the 1986 film, Duckie and Blane compete for the affections of star Molly Ringwald's Annie Walsh, leading them to several tiffs and spats. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026 The teams’ proximity to one another had many wondering if an organic rivalry would quickly blossom, especially considering the historic spats between New York and Boston teams in other sports. — Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 12 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spats

Noun

Candi is the family mediator Like any father-daughter coaching dynamic, Corey and Coco have had their fair share of quarrels on the tennis court.

— Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026
Rounding out the top five names were seven write-in votes for the Sacramento Capitals or Capitols — which could be nicknamed the Caps to avoid quarrels over the spelling — and six votes for the Sacramento Stingers or Sting, referencing the collegiate Sacramento State Hornets.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026

Definition of quarrels

Noun

Retired Miami Heat forward and captain Udonis Haslem found himself in more than a few altercations during his NBA playing career.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
Multiple officials say that players are advised, outside of training sessions, to remain in the hotel complexes at all times to avoid any risk of altercations or safety risks in public.

— Adam Crafton, New York Times, 4 July 2026

Definition of altercations

Verb

Along the way, our hero encounters the sorceress Circe, who turns his companions into pigs; makes a descent into Hades; fights the song of the sirens; and survives the island of the nymph Calypso.

— Valentina Colosimo, Vanity Fair, 14 July 2026
Rising through the ranks as a gladiator, Maximus fights his way back to Rome to seek vengeance and restore honor to the Empire.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

Definition of fights

Noun

Herzog won a power struggle in the front office, then quit anyway, amid disputes with ownership.

— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
According to Castillo, one of the most significant failures has been the tendency to treat many squatter complaints as civil disputes rather than criminal investigations.

— Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026

Definition of disputes

Verb

However, Chad Nelsen, CEO of the Surfrider Foundation, argues that California’s beach access laws and tradition are well established and should have come as no surprise to someone capable of purchasing 53 acres of prime shoreline.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 16 July 2026
Trump has been pushing Republicans to pass the SAVE America Act, but Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) argues that the GOP doesn’t have the 60 votes needed to pass the legislation.

— Sydney Topf, The Washington Examiner, 16 July 2026

Definition of argues

Noun

Skills such as understanding another person's perspective, resolving disagreements, responding constructively to feedback and recovering from failure can all be taught.

— Dan Fitzpatrick, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Rather, the point would be to convert disagreements regarding biodiversity into guidance for ongoing experimentation.

— Taylor Dotson, Scientific American, 10 July 2026

Definition of disagreements

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“Spats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spats. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of spats

noun

verb

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