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
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Recent Examples of spats
Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2025
The two-day process was marked by ardent objection from major medical organizations, internal spats among members and a stark lack of data to support altering decades-long vaccine guidance.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 5 Dec. 2025
Further, most float escorts are required to wear spats over their shoes, so bulky footwear wouldn't fit beneath them.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
The two had small spats here and there early on, mostly about communication style.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 22 Oct. 2025
Personal spats and legal battles would keep Frehley and Criss out of the mix, for the most part.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025
Local spats could now feed into a mass movement that spread far beyond individual disputes between a peasant and a particularly nasty abbot or lord.
—Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
In addition to the cohosts getting into memorable spats over Harris' bid for the presidency, during a pre-2024 election interview on the show in October of last year, Harris responded to one of Hostin's questions that inquired about differentiating herself from President Biden's policies.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 23 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
Noun
Entire YouTube channels have sprung up to document comedians’ latest spats, and even the least popular videos on these channels are watched more than the average YouTube comedy special.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2025
The two-day process was marked by ardent objection from major medical organizations, internal spats among members and a stark lack of data to support altering decades-long vaccine guidance.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 5 Dec. 2025
Further, most float escorts are required to wear spats over their shoes, so bulky footwear wouldn't fit beneath them.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
The two had small spats here and there early on, mostly about communication style.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 22 Oct. 2025
Personal spats and legal battles would keep Frehley and Criss out of the mix, for the most part.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025
Local spats could now feed into a mass movement that spread far beyond individual disputes between a peasant and a particularly nasty abbot or lord.
—Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
In addition to the cohosts getting into memorable spats over Harris' bid for the presidency, during a pre-2024 election interview on the show in October of last year, Harris responded to one of Hostin's questions that inquired about differentiating herself from President Biden's policies.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 23 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spats
Noun
-
But by agreeing to disagree on these ideological quarrels, negotiators could manage to find ways to prevent them from triggering unnecessary crises.—
Mohammad Javad Zarif,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Dec. 2025
-
There is enough division already without such quarrels.—
Amy Davidson Sorkin,
New Yorker,
8 Dec. 2025
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
-
No arrests, detentions or altercations with police were reported.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Loud sounds of rioters and altercations with Capitol Police could be heard clearly.—
Sarah Ghermay,
Washington Post,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Eleven finds her way to them, jumping inside the Mind Flayer to destroy Vecna, who’s controlling it from within, while Will fights telepathically from the outside, no longer empathetic or afraid to go toe to toe with his former saboteur.—
Yohana Desta,
Rolling Stone,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Ucg | Universal Images Group | Getty Images Novo Nordisk’s shift from a market darling to a serious underperformer has set the stage for a transitional 2026 as the Danish drugmaker fights to regain investor confidence in its weight loss business.—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
1 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Opening arguments in a Stanford felony vandalism case began Friday amid sharp disputes over whether political views tied to Israel’s war in Gaza should factor into the trial — an issue that has shaped the case from its earliest stages.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Keeping Tabs on Car and Insurance-Related Documents Good documentation helps save time and stress during claims or disputes.—
Ethan M. Stone,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The White House argues this video shows Ross was hit by Good's car.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The addition of those provisions, the lawsuit argues, violated a requirement in the Missouri Constitution that laws only deal with one subject.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Over the course of the hour-long runtime, all the girls bring their lingering tensions and disagreements to the table and air everything out.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Democrats gathered for a conference hosted by progressives were sneering at Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, who was not present, for shutting down popular new faces based on disagreements over specific issues.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
At Tender, Whitney clashes with his more hedonistic co-founder Jonah (Kal Penn) and bosses around his assistant Haley (Kiernan Shipka).—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Matty is a blustering, blue-collar Bostonian who sees himself as the unequivocal boss of the house and frequently clashes with his liberal niece Blaire, an outspoken college student who often finds herself at odds with her more traditional-minded relatives.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
11 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spats. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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