QUARREL Synonyms: 84 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'quarrel' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of quarrel are altercation , squabble , and wrangle . While all these words mean "a noisy dispute usually marked by anger," quarrel implies heated verbal contention, stressing strained or severed relations which may persist beyond the contention. // a quarrel nearly destroyed the relationship

Q: When would 'altercation' be a good substitute for 'quarrel'?

The words altercation and quarrel can be used in similar contexts, but altercation implies fighting with words as the chief weapon, although it may also connote blows. // a loud public altercation

Q: When can 'squabble' be used instead of 'quarrel'?

The synonyms squabble and quarrel are sometimes interchangeable, but squabble stresses childish and unseemly dispute over petty matters, but it need not imply bitterness or anger. // a brief squabble over what to do next

Q: When is it sensible to use 'wrangle' instead of 'quarrel'?

While the synonyms wrangle and quarrel are close in meaning, wrangle suggests undignified and often futile disputation with a noisy insistence on differing opinions. // wrangle interminably about small issues

quarrel 1 of 2

noun

Definition of quarrel

as in dispute

an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions a loud quarrel erupted at the next table over

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

quarrel

2 of 2

verb

as in to bicker

to express different opinions about something often angrily the coach and the referee quarreled about whether the ball was in bounds

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun quarrel contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of quarrel are altercation, squabble, and wrangle. While all these words mean "a noisy dispute usually marked by anger," quarrel implies heated verbal contention, stressing strained or severed relations which may persist beyond the contention.

a quarrel nearly destroyed the relationship

When would altercation be a good substitute for quarrel?

The words altercation and quarrel can be used in similar contexts, but altercation implies fighting with words as the chief weapon, although it may also connote blows.

a loud public altercation

When can squabble be used instead of quarrel?

The synonyms squabble and quarrel are sometimes interchangeable, but squabble stresses childish and unseemly dispute over petty matters, but it need not imply bitterness or anger.

a brief squabble over what to do next

When is it sensible to use wrangle instead of quarrel?

While the synonyms wrangle and quarrel are close in meaning, wrangle suggests undignified and often futile disputation with a noisy insistence on differing opinions.

wrangle interminably about small issues

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 quarrel

Noun

On the new series, some House of Stassi castmembers raised their quarrels with Maloney joining their cast. — Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 8 Aug. 2026 Their midnight rendezvous seems doomed to end in a quarrel until Mysaria heeds Sylvi’s advice. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026

Verb

In fact, Twain might well have quarreled with the whole premise of celebrating America’s 250th birthday. — Ron Chernow, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026 Weston, an Auburn University student in Japan with his family to celebrate his brother’s high school graduation, disappeared May 29 after quarreling with his mother. — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 5 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for quarrel

Recent Examples of Synonyms for quarrel

Noun

The planned center for arbitrating investment and commercial disputes, for example, will sit within the Syrian Investment Authority, which is itself attached to the presidency.

— Jesse Marks, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026
Adair died in jail following a dispute with deputies, including Fatherley, who knelt on his back.

— Sofi Zeman August 31, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of dispute

Verb

Kimmel and Damon then bicker over who has a rightful paternal claim to the child, culminating in a pitch-perfect spoof of Maury featuring Short as Povich.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Aug. 2026
There’s striker Josie Gordon, bickering twin sisters Siobhan and Niamh, glove-shunning goalie Katie ‘Boots’ Quinn and couple Maddie and Margy.

— Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of bicker

Noun

The Honda continues down the street and crashes into a parked car, as Good’s wife, Becca Good, who was recording the altercation, runs after it.

— Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Detectives found that Spencer was involved in an altercation with a man inside the library before the stabbing.

— Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of altercation

Verb

Some officials argue that would let Iceland keep control of its waters, since no EU country has fished there for decades.

— Reuters, NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026
While that figure was low, the researchers argued that even a small risk of unintended weapons use could be unacceptable in sensitive maritime confrontations.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of argue

Noun

Big picture The league and the union are meeting regularly on various topics, but their disagreement on core economics — whether to move to a cap system — leaves little room for progress on the major issues.

— Evan Drellich, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026
What the disagreement was about Auditors for the city of Atlanta said the transit agency overcharged for enhanced bus service and owed the city $70 million from a fund to pay for new MARTA projects.

— AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of disagreement

Verb

Without a clear message from Warsh, investors began to doubt the Fed’s inflation-fighting resolve.

— Brian Cheung, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026
Federal safety investigators urged automakers to give emergency responders better guides on how to fight lithium-ion battery fires.

— Todd C. Frankel, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of fight

Noun

Although the allegations became a significant controversy surrounding his political career, higher courts later invalidated key evidence in the investigation, and the criminal complaint against him was rejected in 2022.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026
The vote came without debate on the Assembly floor, despite previous controversy over the changes as the bill moved through the Senate.

— Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of controversy

Verb

Mulroney, Ackerman, Snow, and Newman turn this story of spatting WAGS into an explosive, addictive watch.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2025
Preparation has cultural and regional variations, but the seed is usually chewed with slaked lime and betel leaves, and chewing releases a red juice that's often then spat out.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Aug. 2025

Definition of spat

Browse Nearby Words

quarantining

quarrel

quarreled

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Quarrel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quarrel. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of quarrel

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes