squabble

American  

[skwob-uhl] / ˈskwɒb əl /

verb (used without object)

squabbled, squabbling

1. to engage in a petty quarrel.

   Synonyms:

   fight , bicker , wrangle , quarrel

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verb (used with object)

squabbled, squabbling

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

noun

1. a petty quarrel.

squabble British  

/ ˈskwɒbəl /

verb

1. (intr) to quarrel over a small matter

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noun

1. a petty quarrel

Other Word Forms

• squabbler noun
• squabblingly adverb
• unsquabbling adjective

Etymology

Origin of squabble

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

Example Sentences

Hundreds of Brussels residents took to the streets Monday to protest as the failure of squabbling politicians to form a regional city government topped a previous 541-day Belgian record.

From Barron's

A separate joint venture with Helsing, a German defense startup, fell apart last year amid squabbling over who would have most control over the software project, according to people familiar with the matter.

From The Wall Street Journal

Zelensky, in a dramatic address recorded after receiving the 28-point plan, urged Ukrainians to “stop squabbling” so as not to let the country’s enemies divide it.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Couples can get stuck in these squabbles that are not grounded to the goal of getting something done.”

From MarketWatch

What he belittles as intramural squabbling is the difficult and necessary work of moral and political hygiene for the conservative movement—and the country.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• altercation
• bickering
• controversy
• difference
• difference of opinion
• disagreement
• dispute
• feud
• flap
• hassle
• quarrel
• spat
• tiff
• wrangle