altercation

noun

al·​ter·​ca·​tion ˌȯl-tər-ˈkā-shən 

: a noisy, heated, angry dispute

He got into several altercations with his boss.

also : noisy controversy

Synonyms

• argle-bargle [chiefly British]
• argument
• argy-bargy [chiefly British]
• battle royal
• bicker
• brawl
• contretemps
• controversy
• cross fire
• disagreement
• dispute
• donnybrook
• falling-out
• fight
• hassle
• imbroglio
• kickup
• misunderstanding
• quarrel
• rhubarb
• row
• scrap
• set-to
• spat
• squabble
• tiff
• wrangle

Choose the Right Synonym for altercation

quarrel, wrangle, altercation, squabble mean a noisy dispute usually marked by anger.

quarrel implies heated verbal contention, stressing strained or severed relations which may persist beyond the contention.

a quarrel nearly destroyed the relationship

wrangle suggests undignified and often futile disputation with a noisy insistence on differing opinions.

wrangle interminably about small issues

altercation implies fighting with words as the chief weapon, although it may also connote blows.

a loud public altercation

squabble stresses childish and unseemly dispute over petty matters, but it need not imply bitterness or anger.

a brief squabble over what to do next

Examples of altercation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

He was also arrested in 2012 following an altercation at a hotel in Omaha, Nebraska, and charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and obstructing justice, Reuters reported. —Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025

According to prosecutors, Adams was shot during the altercation and later pushed out of the moving vehicle, suffering fatal injuries on the street in front of witnesses. —Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 31 Jan. 2025

Tarrant County sheriff’s deputies fatally shot a man who was armed with a knife during an altercation as the deputies tried to serve a warrant Friday afternoon in Haltom City, according to the Sheriff’s Office. —Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan. 2025

However, the film’s fate changed drastically after the actor was convicted of assault and harassment following an altercation with his ex-partner. —Okla Jones, Essence, 30 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English altercacioun, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French altercacion, borrowed from Latin altercātiōn-, altercātiō, from altercārī, altercāre "to dispute vehemently, wrangle" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at altercate

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

altercation

noun

al·​ter·​ca·​tion ˌȯl-tər-ˈkā-shən 

: a noisy or angry dispute