squabble

American  

[skwob-uhl] / ˈskwɒb əl /

verb (used without object)

squabbled, squabbling

1. to engage in a petty quarrel.

   Synonyms:

   fight, bicker, wrangle, quarrel

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verb (used with object)

squabbled, squabbling

1. Printing. to disarrange and mix (composed type).

noun

1. a petty quarrel.

squabble British  

/ ˈskwɒbəl /

verb

1. (intr) to quarrel over a small matter

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noun

1. a petty quarrel

Other Word Forms

• squabbler noun
• squabblingly adverb
• unsquabbling adjective

Etymology

Origin of squabble

1595–1605; probably < Scandinavian; compare Swedish dialect skvabbel a quarrel, gossip, Norwegian dialect skvabba to prattle

Example Sentences

With routines off-kilter and excitement running high squabbles can break out between siblings as well as cousins or friends they may not see regularly.

From BBC

Air bags have been mandated safety equipment in new cars since the 1990s, following decades of squabbling over their need between carmakers and regulators.

From The Wall Street Journal

James jockeyed with Spain in the New World, which gave England a foothold in the North American colonies, but the settlers were poorly supported and left to fight deadly squabbles with the Native Americans.

From The Wall Street Journal

The answer, he says, is to find what he calls the “Goldilocks zone” of healthy conflict, where people inside the business feel comfortable raising problems without triggering squabbles.

From The Wall Street Journal

Hundreds of Brussels residents took to the streets Monday to protest as the failure of squabbling politicians to form a regional city government topped a previous 541-day Belgian record.

From Barron's

Related Words

• altercation
• bickering
• controversy
• difference
• difference of opinion
• disagreement
• dispute
• feud
• flap
• hassle
• quarrel
• spat
• tiff
• wrangle