quarrelsome

adjective

quar·​rel·​some ˈkwȯr(-ə)l-səm How to pronounce quarrelsome (audio)
ˈkwär(-ə)l-
: apt or disposed to quarrel in an often petty manner : contentious
quarrelsomely adverb
quarrelsomeness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for quarrelsome

belligerent, bellicose, pugnacious, quarrelsome, contentious mean having an aggressive or fighting attitude.

belligerent often implies being actually at war or engaged in hostilities.

belligerent nations

bellicose suggests a disposition to fight.

a drunk in a bellicose mood

pugnacious suggests a disposition that takes pleasure in personal combat.

a pugnacious gangster

quarrelsome stresses an ill-natured readiness to fight without good cause.

the heat made us all quarrelsome

contentious implies perverse and irritating fondness for arguing and quarreling.

wearied by his contentious disposition

Examples of quarrelsome in a Sentence

a quarrelsome student who was always being sent to the principal's office for starting fights in the halls you're so quarrelsome: you can never do anything without a fuss
Recent Examples on the Web In the previous three years alone, the police had responded to a dozen incidents featuring the quarrelsome man. Photographs Todd Heisler, New York Times, 19 May 2024 Stereophonic could be called a workplace drama, a quarrelsome family play or even an extended hangout, as much a vibe as a story. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019 The romantic pentagon’s members are quarrelsome, foolish, and discombobulated by the passage of time—characters often describe themselves as being a bore or a burden, or as having missed their moment. Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024 The battlegrounds have also multiplied, from a few notoriously quarrelsome parent councils to traditionally peaceful spots around the city. Troy Closson, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for quarrelsome 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'quarrelsome.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of quarrelsome was in 1596

Dictionary Entries Near quarrelsome

Cite this Entry

“Quarrelsome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quarrelsome. Accessed 1 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

quarrelsome

adjective
quar·​rel·​some ˈkwȯr(-ə)l-səm How to pronounce quarrelsome (audio)
ˈkwär(-ə)l-
: usually ready to quarrel

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