quarrelsome

adjective

quar·​rel·​some ˈkwȯr(-ə)l-səm 

ˈkwär(-ə)l-

: apt or disposed to quarrel in an often petty manner : contentious

quarrelsomely adverb

quarrelsomeness noun

Synonyms

• aggressive
• agonistic
• argumentative
• assaultive
• bellicose
• belligerent
• brawly
• chippy
• combative
• confrontational
• contentious
• discordant
• disputatious
• feisty
• gladiatorial
• militant
• pugnacious
• scrappy
• truculent
• warlike

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

Word History

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

quarrelsome

adjective

quar·​rel·​some ˈkwȯr(-ə)l-səm 

ˈkwär(-ə)l-

: usually ready to quarrel