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

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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 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
  • The two of them together, just 17 months apart, shared playlists, bickered over where to stop during Apple CarPlay calls, pulled up beside me and faded away with silly faces, encapsulating 20 years of my life in my rearview mirror.
    — Robert Duffer, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • King bickered with fans on social media.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026
Definition of bickered
Verb
  • Yet, Poindexter also argued the promises have not been lived up to.
    — Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The veteran luxury executive was discussing the IFM’s 40th anniversary, and argued that its teaching across business, design and artisanal know-how makes the Paris fashion school unique — and uniquely powerful.
    — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of argued
Verb
  • The film’s drama, though, centers more on Nakamura and Ei, who joined forces to compose a series of hits in the 1960s but quarreled and parted as Nakamura spiraled into alcoholism.
    — Mark Schilling, Variety, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Between these endpoints of hate and love came an hour-long C-SPAN broadcast, on November 30, 1993, in which the men quarrelled, teased, and fielded calls.
    — Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of quarreled
Verb
  • What’s so vexing about the futility is people had such high expectations for this team, which still has a lot of the players who fought through injuries and won 11 games in each of the past two seasons.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2026
  • Missing three starters, Orlando didn’t back down, fought hard throughout the night and forced overtime inside Chase Center.
    — Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of fought

Browse Nearby Words

squabble
squabbled
squabbler
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Cite this Entry

“Squabbled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squabbled. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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