bicker

¹ American  

[bik-er] / ˈbɪk ər /

verb (used without object)

1. to engage in petulant or peevish argument; wrangle.

   The two were always bickering.

   Synonyms:

   spat, disagreement, argument, spat, spar, dispute, haggle, quarrel, argue, squabble, disagree

2. Literary. to rush or make a rushing sound, as water.

   We first heard and then saw the stream bickering down the valley.

3. to flicker; glitter.

   The sun bickered through the trees.

---

noun

1. an angry, petty dispute or quarrel; altercation.

bicker ² American  

[bik-er] / ˈbɪk ər /

noun

Scot.

1. any wooden dish or bowl, especially a wooden porridge bowl.

2. Obsolete. a wooden drinking cup.

---

bicker British  

/ ˈbɪkə /

verb

1. to argue over petty matters; squabble

2. poetic

   1. (esp of a stream) to run quickly

   2. to flicker; glitter

---

noun

1. a petty squabble

Other Word Forms

• bickerer noun
• bickering noun
• unbickered adjective

Etymology

Origin of bicker¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English bikeren; origin unknown

Origin of bicker¹

1300–50; Middle English biker beaker

Example Sentences

A planned vote in September was tabled after fierce disagreement among members, whose bickering Thursday repeatedly devolved into shouting.

From Los Angeles Times

It will also hope that it can put behind it months of public bickering and prove to the electorate it is a serious political force worth voting for.

From BBC

Levin objected, and their tiff is growing increasingly heated as they bicker online.

From Salon

My grandmother and her sister bickered over everything their whole lives, so I think their mother knew better than to leave it to them to decide things.

From MarketWatch

YouTube and Disney spent weeks bickering over distribution fees.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• disagree
• quarrel
• quibble
• spar
• squabble
• wrangle