tiff

1 of 2

noun

ˈtif 

: a petty quarrel

tiff

2 of 2

verb

tiffed; tiffing; tiffs

intransitive verb

: to have a petty quarrel

Synonyms of tiff

Noun

• quarrel
• altercation
• dispute
• controversy
• disagreement
• bicker
• argument
• fight
• brawl

Verb

• bicker
• quarrel
• spat
• fight
• argue
• clash
• brawl
• squabble
• dispute

Examples of tiff in a Sentence

Noun

got into a little tiff about what color sheets to buy for their bed

Verb

like any couple, they occasionally tiff, but it's never anything serious

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

His tiff with Lindsay is a prime example. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 3 June 2026

Tokyo and Beijing will benefit from insulating their trade ties from their diplomatic tiffs. — Jeff Kingston, Time, 15 Feb. 2026

Story, Rafaela repair things after on-field tiff In the midst of a frustrating season, emotions have been tested. — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 3 May 2026

On this week’s New Heights, Clooney — who’s been married to Amal since 2014 and shares two twin children with her — went on to share his outlook on spousal tiffs with the Kelce brothers. — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 3 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

1754, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1700, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tiff

• biff
• cliff
• diff
• glyph
• griff
• if
• riff
• schiff
• skiff
• sniff
• stiff
• whiff

Kids Definition

tiff

noun

ˈtif

: a minor quarrel