squabble
noun
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Definition of squabble
(Entry 1 of 2)
squabble
verb
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Definition of squabble (Entry 2 of 2)
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Other Words from squabble
Verb
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noun
Synonyms for squabble
Synonyms: Noun
altercation, argle-bargle [chiefly British], argument, argy-bargy [chiefly British], battle royal, bicker, brawl, contretemps, controversy, cross fire, disagreement, dispute, donnybrook, falling-out, fight, hassle, imbroglio, kickup, misunderstanding, quarrel, rhubarb, row, scrap, set-to, spat, tiff, wrangle
Synonyms: Verb
altercate, argue, argufy, bicker, brabble, brawl, controvert, dispute, fall out, fight, hassle, jar, quarrel, quibble, row, scrap, spat, tiff, wrangle
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Examples of squabble in a Sentence
Noun
frightened by noise of the squabble, the cat hid under the couchVerb
The children were squabbling over the toys. the children squabbled loudly over who got to play with the toy first
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
That union dissolved in a nasty and public divorce squabble that finally ended in May 1995, in the middle of Iacocca’s bid to take over Chrysler with Kerkorian. — Charlotte W. Craig, Detroit Free Press, "Lee Iacocca dies: Father of Mustang, rescuer of Chrysler was 94," 2 July 2019 The now-infamous battle of the Lukes kicked into high gear after Luke S. and Luke P. got into a squabble during a rugby game (yes, really) during which the former claims the latter lifted him off the ground and body-slammed him. — Cait Munro, refinery29.com, "Does Luke S. From The Bachelorette Even Have A Tequila Brand?," 5 June 2019 In Australia, a leadership squabble in the ruling coalition is threatening the conservative government’s fragile hold on power. — Joanne Chiu, WSJ, "Analysts Grow Gloomier About Profit Outlook in Asia," 23 Aug. 2018 At points during the debate candidates warned that Republicans were being aided by the party's squabbles over health care, criminal justice reform and issues of race. — Gromer Jeffers Jr., Dallas News, "Texan Julian Castro helps lead blistering attack on Joe Biden during Democratic presidential debate," 31 July 2019 The package, negotiated largely between Mnuchin and Pelosi (D-San Francisco), marks one of the few and most significant bipartisan legislative accomplishments in this Congress, which has been marred by partisan squabbles. — Los Angeles Times, "House approves two-year deal to raise debt ceiling and increase government spending," 25 July 2019 Liberalism and progressivism have few philosophical constraints on striking while the political iron is hot, so internal squabbles over substantive policy matters are less likely. — WSJ, "No Tea Party on the Democrats’ Left Wing," 12 Sep. 2018 Would average Americans want to watch a proxy for the uber-rich Murdoch family squabble over who gets slightly more millions of dollars? — Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, "Review: HBO can't succeed with corporate media-family drama 'Succession'," 31 May 2018 Reality real estate shows depend on family squabbles to create exciting storylines. — Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Country Living, "Ladies' Home Journal Predicted America's Future Obsession with Real-Estate Reality TV In 1903," 14 July 2016Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
In various forms, the dispute had been playing out until recently in a local probate court before judges accustomed to squabbling over inheritances. — Eriq Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, "Deaths in Entertainment Become Problems for the Federal Judiciary," 22 Aug. 2019 Age already a punching bag Biden and Trump, who turns 73 on Friday, have already squabbled about age in the early going of the campaign. — Michael Collins, USA TODAY, "Trump vs. Biden in Iowa: Septuagenarian rivals try to demonstrate vigor in head-to-head stops," 17 Apr. 2019 For six months, no government was formed, as the two camps squabbled over who would get which ministries. — The Economist, "How do you reform a country where gunmen torch Ebola clinics?," 2 Aug. 2019 But those who do might take notice, and stop squabbling about the finer points. — Dana Milbank, The Mercury News, "Milbank: Williamson won’t win, but to all 2020 hopefuls: Take note," 31 July 2019 There was the debt that led to foreclosure on his Neverland ranch, the prosthetic nose, the questions around who would control his estate as his family squabbled. — Courtney E. Smith, refinery29.com, "10 Years After Michael Jackson’s Death, The King Of Pop’s Legacy Is In Shambles," 25 June 2019 In addition to haggling over the content of a deal, the two sides are also squabbling over how any new rules would be enforced. — Anna Fifield, Anchorage Daily News, "China warns of retaliatory measures after Trump threatens new tariffs," 2 Aug. 2019 In the Bay Area and cities throughout the country, residents and politicians are squabbling over how streets should look and function. — Rachel Swan, SFChronicle.com, "East Bay cities look to reinvent and reinvigorate aging, car-oriented corridors," 27 July 2019 Aides role-played as members of Congress who might have wanted to squabble with him on camera. — Noah Weiland, BostonGlobe.com, "In 88 trips to Capitol Hill, Mueller grew weary of partisanship," 21 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'squabble.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.