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.

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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.

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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

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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 bicker²

1300–50; Middle English biker beaker

Example Sentences

It was surely impossible for her feeble human eyes to see Clare and Gingersnipes through the underbrush, surely impossible for her feeble human ears to hear their bickering; nevertheless, he felt a chill of fear.

From Literature

Despite the stress of delivering the “Arirang” on time, the men never bicker or snipe at each other.

From Salon

The sisters’ mutual antagonism has a few clever beats, like when they bicker over who had the superior working-class restaurant job, Grace waiting tables or Faith as a hostess.

From Los Angeles Times

But Mullin added that their personal differences wouldn’t keep him from doing his job — “it’s bigger than partisan bickering” — and asked Paul to let him earn his respect.

From Los Angeles Times

A pair of inquisitive magpies followed them from tree to tree, bickering.

From Literature

Related Words

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