bicker

[ bik-er ]

/ ˈbɪk ər /

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See synonyms for: bicker / bickering on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

to engage in petulant or peevish argument; wrangle: The two were always bickering.

to run rapidly; move quickly; rush; hurry: a stream bickering down the valley.

to flicker; glitter: The sun bickered through the trees.

noun

an angry, petty dispute or quarrel; contention.

OTHER WORDS FOR bicker

1 disagree, squabble, argue, quarrel, haggle, dispute, spar, spat.

See synonyms for bicker on Thesaurus.com

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navy

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azure

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Origin of bicker

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

OTHER WORDS FROM bicker

bick·er·er, nounun·bick·ered, adjectiveun·bick·er·ing, adjective

Other definitions for bicker (2 of 2)

bicker²

[ bik-er ]

/ ˈbɪk ər /

noun Scot.

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

Obsolete. a wooden drinking cup.

Origin of bicker

1300–50; Middle English bikerbeaker

How to use bicker in a sentence

Joy Woodhouse calls in to tell her bickering boys Brad and Dallas to “get this out of your system” before Christmas.
Mom Scolds Pundit Sons on C-SPAN|Alex Chancey, The Daily Beast Video|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Such admiration for the American system sounds strange in this era of gridlock and bickering.
Communism's Victims Deserve a Museum|James Kirchick|August 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Chronic partisan bickering largely gave way to a rare moment of well-deserved self-congratulation.
Warsawgate Rocks Poland|Andrew Nagorski|June 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The landings culminated years of debate, planning, construction, bickering, invention, training, deception of the enemy and more.
D-Day Historian Craig Symonds Talks About History’s Most Amazing Invasion|Marc Wortman|June 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Leaders are constantly issuing contradictory orders and security commanders are bickering.
Inside East Ukraine’s Make-Believe Republics|Jamie Dettmer|May 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The bickering might have gone on the rest of the evening except that Barbara Sutton told them they were both being very foolish.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
There was haggling and bickering until a price of sixty was agreed upon, and Mr. McCann's heart expanded with satisfaction.
Scattergood Baines|Clarence Budington Kelland
There was nothing to distract him from the sordidness of the bickering household in George Street.
The Life of Mazzini|Bolton King
"I saw you as I was coming away from Kendrick's last night," he began, with a bickering rasp in his voice.
The Wreckers|Francis Lynde
Einstein was the only thinker in a century gone mad from bickering.
Hunters Out of Space|Joseph Everidge Kelleam

British Dictionary definitions for bicker

bicker

/ (ˈbɪkə) /

verb (intr)

to argue over petty matters; squabble

poetic

(esp of a stream) to run quickly
to flicker; glitter

noun

a petty squabble

Derived forms of bicker

bickerer, nounbickering, noun, adjective

Word Origin for bicker

C13: of unknown origin

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

bicker

OTHER WORDS FOR bicker

Origin of bicker

OTHER WORDS FROM bicker

Other definitions for bicker (2 of 2)

Origin of bicker

Words related to bicker

How to use bicker in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bicker

Derived forms of bicker

Word Origin for bicker