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
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
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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The actors jokingly bickered about their history with the ceremony, with Cheadle remarking that Clooney hadn’t won since 2026 winner Timothée Chalamet was 3 years old.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
11 Jan. 2026
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On 33 occasions since 2017, Congress has been forced to pass emergency extensions to the flood insurance program, as lawmakers bickered over budgets and looming shutdowns threatened to disrupt it, according to a letter the National Association of Realtors sent to Congress ahead of the shutdown.—
Rukmini Callimachi,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The machine owner had argued that consideration was absent because players could play without purchasing a card.—
Daniel Wallach,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
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Supporters have argued that because the city charter functions as Los Angeles’ governing document, the commission’s work warrants heightened disclosure requirements.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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For the past seven months, SDC has quarreled with state officials and lawmakers over its community action agency title.—
Gina Lee Castro,
jsonline.com,
26 Nov. 2025
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Rhoden's biggest political victory this year was getting the state Legislature to sign off on a $650 million plan in September to replace the 141-year-old state penitentiary, an issue the Legislature had quarreled over for years.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Nov. 2025
Verb
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For instance, Schultz has steadfastly fought against performing blood transfusions in the field, despite the federal government’s offer of billions of dollars in grants to pay for them.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
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His daughter Nenen has since fought to get his killing — by forces directed by an influential family allied with the then-government — officially acknowledged.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Squabbled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squabbled. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.
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