as in quarrels
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
like any couple, they have their spats
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in bickers
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 spats
Jay Stahl, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
Instead, the right devolved into a series of intramural spats, primarily over America’s support for Israel.
—Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
To those in the industry, he was known as a hardworking executive who worked long hours even when sick and who was not afraid to get into spats with retail industry leaders.
—Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 23 Mar. 2026
Trump’s use of a global trade war to alienate friends and abuse neighbors, and his spats with allies over the fates of Greenland and Ukraine, seem to have left room for Xi to grow his power.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Anyone with siblings, particularly those somewhat close in age, knows spats periodically happen.
—Colby Gordon, Austin American Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026
Jones is even avoiding any public spats with players and agents in contract talks.
—Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026
Any verbal spats were merely clearing the air, giving everyone space to move forward without overthinking.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2026
Then again, many of these spats have been taken to the court of public opinion — as well as, frequently, actual court — via social media, where Fishman and Redford encountered the videos as early inspiration for the show.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
While the program has produced lighter moments for political junkies, such as the Allison-Singleton banter, clips of occasional spats between panelists have made the show a messy must-watch for virtual viewers who casually tune in to the tussles on social media.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
Instead, the right devolved into a series of intramural spats, primarily over America’s support for Israel.
—Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
To those in the industry, he was known as a hardworking executive who worked long hours even when sick and who was not afraid to get into spats with retail industry leaders.
—Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 23 Mar. 2026
Trump’s use of a global trade war to alienate friends and abuse neighbors, and his spats with allies over the fates of Greenland and Ukraine, seem to have left room for Xi to grow his power.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Anyone with siblings, particularly those somewhat close in age, knows spats periodically happen.
—Colby Gordon, Austin American Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026
Jones is even avoiding any public spats with players and agents in contract talks.
—Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026
Any verbal spats were merely clearing the air, giving everyone space to move forward without overthinking.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2026
Then again, many of these spats have been taken to the court of public opinion — as well as, frequently, actual court — via social media, where Fishman and Redford encountered the videos as early inspiration for the show.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spats
Noun
-
Avoid money quarrels with everyone.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
8 Feb. 2026
-
His quarrels with Massie and interest in relitigating the 2020 election seem to animate him more, too.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The pope, played by Samora la Perdida, is a mincing oaf who bickers with Galas about the value of translating Wagner.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Other proposals in the legislative package would require city agencies to report on social media’s impact on young people’s mental health and study how their online activity can lead to face-to-face altercations.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
On Sunday, the Village of Skokie posted a statement to their website in regards to the two youth altercations, stating that officials were made aware of the two separate incidents by Skokie Police and the Skokie Park District.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After years making other kinds of headlines in their community, their split is now playing out publicly as Mike fights to have the court enforce the couple’s prenuptial agreement, which would pay Constance a lump sum of $1 million.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
-
These fights often concern cuisines that rarely see the spotlight.—
Jamie Feldmar,
Saveur,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But the more notable trend today is that many disputes no longer hinge on whether AI exists at all.—
Perrie M. Weiner,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Platinum’s biggest supply risk stems from its heavy dependence on South African mines, where power outages and labor disputes can disrupt mining output.—
Sharon Wu,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
More than 250 security leaders helped shape the briefing, which argues the challenge is no longer just finding flaws, but deciding which ones actually pose real risk – and fixing them before they can be turned into working exploits.—
Stefanie Schappert,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The mega-corporation (owned by Amazon), as Tolentino argues, budgets for this kind of light shoplifting anyway.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The point is that some disagreements may be too socially expensive to stage as public trials.—
Nikhil Krishnan,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
But the move to cancel the funds comes amid growing tensions between the White House and the Vatican over disagreements about the War in Iran.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This directly clashes with Cooper's Chiron in Virgo — also in her second house, pointing to an underlying vulnerability around worth, whether financially, professionally or even self-esteem.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
-
A little indulgence won’t hurt as the moon clashes with Jupiter.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spats. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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