SQUABBLING Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

squabbling

verb

present participle of squabble

as in bickering

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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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 squabbling The squabbling banter between the two is priceless, even endearing. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 28 July 2026 The Greek myths are rife with petty and meddlesome deities squabbling, playing favorites, punishing harshly, and otherwise wreaking havoc on the lives of mortal men. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 17 July 2026 The actor ended up calling attention to his own hat after squabbling with cast member Sarah Sherman — who, to match the country singer's vibe, pulled up in a cowboy hat, leaving Gosling as the odd man out. — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026 With supply shrinking, the states continue squabbling. — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 26 June 2026 Parties generally avoid this kind of squabbling in wide-open governor’s races by letting the candidates compete and seeing who wins the primary, said Gregory Koger, a political science professor at the University of Miami. — Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 June 2026 Cobb County and Mableton have been squabbling over police services. — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 16 June 2026 Then there are the lesser houses, the lower fiefdoms squabbling over the crumbs that fall from the big kids’ table. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 14 May 2026 The squabbling brothers of the north west. — Ian Irving, New York Times, 3 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for squabbling

Verb

Back at the base, the team is still bickering with the other troopers.

— Andy Andersen, Vulture, 2 Aug. 2026
After bickering with Percy over her involvement in the mission, Thalia ultimately drives away from the scene.

— Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 23 July 2026

Definition of bickering

Verb

This opinion sparked debate in the online nutrition community, with some dietitians and nutritionists arguing that bananas should not be villainized based on a small body of research.

— Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Prasad defended his decision by arguing that the company didn’t compare its mRNA vaccine’s efficacy to the correct existing vaccine.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of arguing

Verb

Now might not seem the moment for Democrats to be quarrelling, but many of them believe that the only way to build the Party back up is to remake it.

— Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 17 May 2026
The lack of money has, at times, led to quarrelling between the services - most notably pitting the navy against the army and the Royal Air Force.

— Ian King, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026

Definition of quarreling

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squabbles

squabbling

squabs

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“Squabbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squabbling. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of squabbling

verb

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