as in bickered
to express different opinions about something often angrily
the children squabbled loudly over who got to play with the toy first
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Recent Examples of squabbled
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
The parties have squabbled over the lawsuit's jurisdiction for months.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
Awarded a second-half penalty against Bremen, Patrik Schick and Exequiel Palacios squabbled over who should take it, in a cliche of team dysfunction.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2025
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
The parties have squabbled over the lawsuit's jurisdiction for months.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
Awarded a second-half penalty against Bremen, Patrik Schick and Exequiel Palacios squabbled over who should take it, in a cliche of team dysfunction.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squabbled
Verb
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Pointing to elk heads mounted on the wall, the two jokingly bickered over who had bowhunted which.—
Jessica Mathews,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
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Jokic and Oklahoma City’s players had bothered each other and bickered all night.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Don Weilhammer said that the preliminary investigation found that the argument and subsequent shooting began after the two involved allegedly argued over Pokémon cards, Fox 59 reported.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
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Yee argued California is ready for a change in leadership.—
Steve Large,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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On Thursday, the Miami City Commission deferred voting on two commissioners’ requests to fund affordable housing and parks in their districts after officials quarreled over which areas in the city have the most pressing needs, an argument that cut to the core of the wealth divide in Miami.—
Tess Riski
April 10,
Miami Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
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Budapest, which has quarreled with its EU partners over support for Ukraine and Russian oil deliveries, has also blocked a 90 billion euro ($103 billion) loan as Kyiv runs low on cash.—
Lorne Cook,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For decades, activists and ecologists have fought to take advantage of our watershed for recreational and community life, with remarkable success.—
Deputy Managing Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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The company fought to preserve that business.—
Binyamin Appelbaum,
Mercury News,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Squabbled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squabbled. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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