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Synonyms

tiff

American  
[tif] / tɪf /

noun

  1. a slight or petty quarrel.

    Synonyms:
    difference, misunderstanding, scrap, spat

  2. a slight fit of annoyance, bad mood, or the like.

verb (used without object)

  1. to have a petty quarrel.

  2. to be in a tiff.

tiff 1 British  
/ tɪf /

noun

  1. a petty quarrel

  2. a fit of ill humour

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (intr) to have or be in a tiff

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
tiff 2 British  
/ tɪf /

noun

  1. archaic a small draught of alcoholic drink; dram

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of tiff

First recorded in 1720–30; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Perhaps most amusing is Mr. Booker’s tiff with Conan O’Brien, who made a joke about the city of Newark.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

Murray told police he regarded the fight as a "tiff", the court was told.

From BBC • Jul. 8, 2025

Back in 2019, Trump’s call caused a brief diplomatic tiff with Denmark, under whose sovereignty the vast island falls.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2024

Etty Lau Farrell said the tension in the band started from a technical tiff over the volume of their instruments.

From Salon • Sep. 14, 2024

One girl in chiffon had a tiff with her date and ran off toward the first tee, calling, “Wait for me!”

From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.