as in altercations
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
Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Sep. 2025
As with other such contract spats, this one looks centered on higher programming fees being sought by Fox Corp.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 27 Aug. 2025
Starr's business partner Keith McNally — known for iconic eateries like Balthazar and social media spats with celebrities like James Corden — established his brand for years before the duo partnered up.
—Hadley Hitson, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
Canceled also highlights other controversies in Deen's career, including her public spats with Bourdain, the world-traveling chef and CNN travel documentarian who later died by suicide in 2018.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Sep. 2025
As with other such contract spats, this one looks centered on higher programming fees being sought by Fox Corp.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 27 Aug. 2025
Starr's business partner Keith McNally — known for iconic eateries like Balthazar and social media spats with celebrities like James Corden — established his brand for years before the duo partnered up.
—Hadley Hitson, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spats
Noun
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Estelle said there appeared to be at least five fights, and because there were so many altercations in one evening numerous people were detained during the football game.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Sep. 2025
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The trend has resulted in several fatal altercations in recent years.—
Jenna Sundel
Jason Lemon,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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International investment treaty disputes are arbitrated under a third-party institution that employs attorneys who specialize in international law and have no particular ties to either party.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
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The California Governor’s Office disputes Kominski’s characterization of contractor donations as a vector for political influence.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The September 12 report shared that RBW had actually fired Lee in August, citing declining profitability, management difficulties, and disagreements over new artist direction.—
Jeff Benjamin,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Its first-ever color feature, In the Shadow of Honor, which was going to be filmed in Indonesia, was canceled due to disagreements between the two countries related to colonial war reparations.—
Michael Taube,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Under a new deal with CBS and Paramount+, UFC fights will be available for all subscribers.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Days later, then-Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley announced a campaign challenging the former governor as the GOP fights to keep the Senate seat red.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Runge argues in The Great Healthcare Disruption that innovation without humanity risks leaving patients behind, while humanity without innovation risks stalling medical progress.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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And seabed curtains could divert warm water toward other glaciers, the paper argues, or disrupt the upwelling of nutrients that feed phytoplankton—a crucial food for many other species.—
Alec Luhn,
Scientific American,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Kraft later said he was disappointed in how the docuseries focused on controversies instead of the team’s success.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
7 Sep. 2025
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Canceled also highlights other controversies in Deen's career, including her public spats with Bourdain, the world-traveling chef and CNN travel documentarian who later died by suicide in 2018.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Coerced into a conversion therapy program, Jared clashes with its hostile leader (Joel Edgerton), igniting a transformative journey of self-acceptance.—
Alex Gurley,
People.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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The feces contrast with her teeth in a way that inexplicably clashes with her eyeshadow, and the vignette is instantly burned in your brain.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The curfew came following brawls with police, a racist threat and gunfire that led to a riot in the heart of Milwaukee's Black neighborhood on the city's north side.—
Steven Martinez,
jsonline.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Seattle Seahawks pratice erupted into many brawls.—
Matthew Schmidt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spats. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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