squabbled

verb

past tense of squabble
as in bickered
to express different opinions about something often angrily the children squabbled loudly over who got to play with the toy first

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 squabbled The city and a group of taxpayers for years squabbled in court over whether the government had the right to enter into a contract with the Friends, which ultimately disbanded before the zoo opened in Griffith Park in 1966. — Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026 The countries have also squabbled over Pretoria’s affirmative action policies and a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. — Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 18 June 2026 Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan have also squabbled over who should have the jewel. — Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026 The holdover Republicans who have remained attached to the party’s old identity (hawkish, pro-Israel, anti-Russia, opposed to anti-Semitism) have squabbled with its newer entrants. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026 The founders squabbled 11 years more over the Constitution, and states took another two years to ratify it. — Jackie Calmes, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026 Personalities from the stations have squabbled over the years, like rappers signed to labels with similar wares but diverging agendas. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025 This go-around hasn’t been much different as the party squabbled over which of their numerous health care proposals should receive a vote. — Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 13 Dec. 2025 Late risers in pajamas walked their dogs, two men squabbled over a parking spot, and neighbors and shopkeepers went about their routines. — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squabbled
  1. bickered
  2. argued
  3. quarreled
  4. fought
Verb
  • King bickered with fans on social media.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026
  • But Tilly and Gershon playfully bickered onstage as the former remembered things slightly differently, with Tilly saying the problem had more to do with a shot of her hand on Gershon's crotch that was deemed too realistic.
    — Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 8 June 2026
Definition of bickered
Verb
  • The nationalist AfD’s landslide victory in a German state on Sunday could portend a far-right surge across Europe, analysts argued.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The four plaintiffs argued that the city failed to take steps to prevent further lead from entering the water supply and gave residents false assurance that the water was safe.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of argued
Verb
  • In Krisevich’s case, Konovalova repeatedly quarreled with the artist and his wife until the couple ultimately escaped Russia in December 2025.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • During his time in the Senate, Brattin was previously a member of the Conservative Caucus, which later rebranded as the Missouri Freedom Caucus, a group of hard-charging lawmakers that frequently quarreled with GOP leadership.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of quarreled
Verb
  • The latest reminder came 42 minutes into Thursday’s hearing in a Louisiana district court in which more than 30 athletes fought to be included within the NCAA rule change that effectively gave every athlete five years to play five seasons.
    — Matt Baker, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • In an address late Thursday, Milei reasserted Argentina’s claim to the islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, which the United Kingdom has controlled since 1833 and over which the two countries fought a war in the early 1980s.
    — Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of fought

Browse Nearby Words

squabble
squabbled
squabbler
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Squabbled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squabbled. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of hobnob

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All