Synonyms for quarrel
- noun
- verb
Most common
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Dispute — A dispute or heated argument (especially one that is verbal)
dispute, squabble, feud, disagreement, fight, wrangle, dust-up, fracas, altercation, argument, clash, brawl, spat, controversy, falling-out, tiff informal, contention, conflict, strife, bicker, bickering, scuffle
2. Quarry — an arrow or bolt for a crossbow or an arbalest (“a late, large type of crossbow”), traditionally with the…
quarry tile, carrell, quarry dated
Verb
Other
Definitions
- n. 1
A dispute or heated argument (especially one that is verbal).
We got into a silly quarrel about what food to order.
- n. 2
An arrow or bolt for a crossbow or an arbalest (“a late, large type of crossbow”), traditionally with the head square in its cross section.
- v. 1
To argue fiercely; to contend; to squabble; to cease to be on friendly terms, to fall out.
Related words
- Word family
- quarrelsome quarry
- Phrases
- pick a quarrel double quarrel
Choose the right word
A quarrel is in word or act, or both, and is commonly slight and transient, as we speak of childish quarrels; contention and strife may be in word or deed; contest ordinarily involves some form of action. Affray, brawl, and broil, like quarrel, are words of inferior dignity.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- dispute Go is a game of dispute and conquest of territory.
- disagreement Tom intervened in his coworkers' disagreement.
- feud There was a feud between Yanni and his ex-boss.
- squabble The diplomatic squabble flared into an open war.
- distance The school is within walking distance of my house.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| quarrel | falling | |
| dispute | steady | |
| disagreement | falling | |
| feud | steady | |
| squabble | rising | |
| distance | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- feud1, spat1, tiff1
- 5 letters
- fight1, clash1, scrap1, brawl1
- 6 letters
- quarry2, strife1, bicker2, fracas2, argufy
- 7 letters
- dispute2, contend2, scuffle2, wrangle2, carrell2
- 8 letters
- distance2, argument3, conflict2, disagree3, squabble2
- 9 letters
- bickering3, altercate
- 10 letters
- contention3
- 11 letters
- controversy4, altercation4
- 12 letters
- disagreement4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (quarry2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- querelle
- Italiano
- bisticcio
- Català
- picabaralla