Synonyms for bicker

Most common

dispute · quarrel · spat · squabble

Synonyms by meaning

Noun

Verb

Definitions

1. n. 1

   A skirmish; an encounter.

2. v. 1

   To quarrel in a tiresome, insulting manner.

   They bickered about dinner every evening.

3. v. 2

   To brawl or move tremulously, quiver, shimmer (of a water stream, light, flame, etc.)

Forms

Plural

bickers → squabbles, spats, tiffs, quarrels…

Past participle

bickered
e.g. bickered → quibbled, petty-fogged, niggled, brabbled…

Example sentences

• dispute Go is a game of dispute and conquest of territory.
• quarrel The quarrel left a gulf between the two families.
• spat I couldn't believe he actually spat me on my face.
• squabble The diplomatic squabble flared into an open war.

Popularity over time

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters

fuss¹, spat¹, spar¹, tiff¹

5 letters

argue², brawl¹

6 letters

differ², barney², quiver², jangle², niggle

7 letters

dispute², contend², quarrel², flicker², quibble², wrangle², brabble

8 letters

disagree³, squabble²

10 letters

contention³

11 letters

altercation⁴

12 letters

pettifoggery

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (argue² = 2 syllables).