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Synonyms

falling-out

American  
[faw-ling-out] / ˈfɔ lɪŋˈaʊt /

noun

  • fallings-out,
    plural
  • falling-outs
    plural
  1. a quarrel or estrangement between persons formerly in close association with one another.


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of falling-out

1560–70; nominalization of verb phrase fall out; see -ing 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.

See Examples For:

The two had a falling-out and, according to the “The A-Team” actor, he told documentary director Scott Weintrob not to include Young, claiming that he wanted “nothing to do with him.”

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 9, 2026

She said she had reported him to authorities and cast the episode as a personal triumph after their falling-out.

From Salon Sep. 3, 2026

“Bottom line is, we just need an executed agreement,” said Tillis, who like Cornyn had a falling-out with Trump and is leaving the Senate after this term.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 29, 2026

The legal feud marks a dramatic falling-out between Anderson and his longtime mentor Burkle, who was the best man at Anderson’s wedding.

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 6, 2026

There was his denim-covered binder stuffed with falling-out papers, a paperback, and the cheese sandwich he hadn’t eaten at lunch, soaking through its paper and smelling like pickles.

From "When You Reach Me" by Rebecca Stead

The Madrid club's steadfast refusal to sanction the 26-year-old's dream move to the Spotify Camp Nou has led to one of the most rancorous public falling-outs in recent memory.

From BBC Aug. 24, 2026

However, Morrow’s uncompromising and confrontational style led to numerous falling-outs with other homelessness leaders and his hardball tactics of staging protest encampments rankled politicians.

From Seattle Times Apr. 29, 2022

The story seems almost unbelievable at first, but according to the piece, Lurie's personal life was riddled with falling-outs.

From Salon Jan. 23, 2021

There have been no public falling-outs on that scale in the intervening three years; a reflection of the personalities that have come into the club as much as the manager’s disciplinary code.

From The Guardian Jun. 26, 2020

He’s had public falling-outs with friends and business partners.

From New York Times Apr. 2, 2015

Most of Tuchel's fallings-out at clubs, sometimes leading to his departure, have come with the people above him - often dealing specifically with transfers and budgets.

From BBC Oct. 16, 2024

China’s political and legal systems remain highly opaque, fueling lively discussion of possible corruption, personal foibles or fallings-out with other powerful figures leading to the downfall of top officials.

From Seattle Times Oct. 24, 2023

But if fallings-out with ardently consensual women were mainly Roth’s doings, earning him the misogynist label, how to explain his ruptures with longstanding friends who were men?

From New York Times Apr. 1, 2021

As WikiLeaks’ fame and reach grew, Assange readily acquired allies but was prone to angry fallings-out.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 11, 2019

It appeared only too evident that the two old friends were again on the verge of one of their distressing fallings-out; but Jane Hubbard intervened once more.

From The Girl on the Boat by P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse

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