bickering

[bik-er-ing]

adjective

1. arguing petulantly or peevishly; wrangling or quarreling.

   To raise their daughter properly, the bickering pair must set aside their differences and work on their parenting skills.

2. flickering.

   They deliberately hadn’t fixed the bickering light at the bistro, as it had become an iconic feature of the establishment.

3. Literary.,  rushing or making a rushing sound, as water.

   The two flutes accompanied by piano sounded like two chirping birds chasing each other above a bickering stream.

noun

1. the act of engaging in petulant or peevish argument.

   Why all this useless bickering over who's best or better?

2. the act of flickering.

   If you’re bothered by the constant bickering of the malfunction light on your motorbike, do a thorough analysis of the wiring.

3. Literary.,  the act of rushing or of making a rushing sound, as water.

   Over the roar of the falls and the ceaseless bickering of the rain, he heard another sound.

Other Word Forms

• unbickering adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bickering¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; bicker ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; bicker ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun senses

Related Words

• altercation 
• argument 
• brawl 
• controversy 
• difference 
• difference of opinion www.thesaurus.com
• discord 
• dispute 
• dissension 
• disturbance 
• falling-out 
• feud 
• fracas 
• misunderstanding 
• row 
• ruckus 
• run-in 
• spat 
• squabble 
• strife