Synonyms

altercate

American

[awl-ter-keyt] / ˈɔl tərˌkeɪt /

verb (used without object)

altercated, altercating

to argue or quarrel with zeal, heat, or anger; wrangle.

altercate British

/ ˈɔːltəˌkeɪt /

verb

(intr) to argue, esp heatedly; dispute

"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 altercate

1530–40; < Latin altercātus (past participle of altercārī to quarrel), equivalent to *alterc ( us ) a disputing ( alter other + -cus formative suffix) + -ātus -ate ¹

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.

Starting in order of the home team that has the least letters in their name, it's the battle of the As as anxious Arsenal altercate against atrocious Aston Villa.

From The Guardian

As far as I can make out that means me and the rest of the battery altercate every other night.

From Project Gutenberg

There they were, however, the two hearts, fighting it out, or at least altercating and threatening to fight and hurt her.

From Project Gutenberg

The essence of the law is altercation; for the law can altercate, fulminate, deprecate, irritate, and go on at any rate.

From Project Gutenberg

Lucifer bemoans his fall and altercates with the Chorus of Angels.

From Project Gutenberg

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