squabble

[ skwob-uhl ]

verb (used without object)

, squab·bled, squab·bling.

1. to engage in a petty quarrel.

   Synonyms: fight, bicker, wrangle, quarrel

verb (used with object)

, squab·bled, squab·bling.

1. Printing. to disarrange and mix (composed type).

noun

1. a petty quarrel.

squabble

/ ˈskwɒbəl /

verb

1. intr to quarrel over a small matter

noun

1. a petty quarrel

Derived Forms

• ˈsquabbler, noun

Other Words From

• squabbler noun
• squabbling·ly adverb
• un·squabbling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of squabble¹

1595–1605; probably < Scandinavian; compare Swedish dialect skvabbel a quarrel, gossip, Norwegian dialect skvabba to prattle

Word History and Origins

Origin of squabble¹

C17: probably of Scandinavian origin; related to Swedish dialect sqvabbel to quarrel

Example Sentences

The rest of the family sometimes balked at their squabbles, which Farr said drove their relatives “justifiably nuts.”

From Washington Post

Shaver’s songs evoked dusty back roads, rural isolation, bar fights, knock-down drag-out marital squabbles and money lost at poker games, as well as the near-destitution of his youth and his own lofty ambitions.

From Washington Post

“The meeting devolved into a partisan squabble,” The Post’s Greg Miller, Ellen Nakashima and Adam Entous reported the following year.

From Washington Post

Bees did, we presume, during a biochemical squabble with viruses in a damp corner of their shared history.

From Nautilus

The squabble eventually devolved into a barely choreographed slapstick fight where Colbert, O’Brien, and Jon Stewart seemed to be locked in a battle for the ages.

From Vox

The squabble was also immortalized in this incredibly awkward family portrait.

From The Daily Beast

At the time, the renamed corner caused a slight international squabble and demands for its removal.

From The Daily Beast

The crowd that accumulated to watch the squabble reportedly applauded and cheered as Bieber fled the scene.

From The Daily Beast

But this scholarly squabble quickly grew ugly with the discovery of Kennewick Man in 1996.

From The Daily Beast

Refaeli got involved in the squabble herself with a pair of near-identical tweets written in Hebrew.

From The Daily Beast

We fix it up and agree to try over ag'in, and then, fust thing we know, we're right into the middle of another squabble.

From Project Gutenberg

The principle would be valuable in many a squabble of corporate employer and hosts of servants in the modern time.

From Project Gutenberg

Twice the big steamer stopped her engines and drifted until the squabble ahead of her seemed to have been settled.

From Project Gutenberg

Fult Cawsler hes done moved hyar from over on Squabble Creek, an' opened a resteraw.

From Project Gutenberg

The hogs evidently thought it feed time, for they rushed forward and began to squabble over the voided matter.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bicker
• disagree
• fall out
• quarrel
• quibble
• wrangle