as in altercation
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
like any couple, they have their spats
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to bicker
to express different opinions about something often angrily
we tend to spat over money more than anything else
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of spat
Ryan Morik, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2025
The new, federal-level tariff comes on the heels of a tariff spat between the U.S. and Ontario this week.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 12 Mar. 2025
Liam Stack, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2023
South Carolina was on the east bank and Georgia on the west; the temperature was in the fifties, and gray clouds spat water in our faces.
—Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 21 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for spat
Noun
The two now-former Cowboys teammates had a spat on X late Thursday stemming from Lawrence's apparent decision to sign with the Seattle Seahawks after 11 seasons.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2025
The new, federal-level tariff comes on the heels of a tariff spat between the U.S. and Ontario this week.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
The teenager first asked the hotel to forgive him, the lawsuit said, but soon flew into a rage, screaming that the hotel was antisemitic and that its employees spat in people’s food.
—Liam Stack, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2023
South Carolina was on the east bank and Georgia on the west; the temperature was in the fifties, and gray clouds spat water in our faces.
—Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 21 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for spat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spat
Noun
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The 18-year-old’s boyfriend was seen in the footage attempting to stop the altercation.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
14 Mar. 2025
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The sole witness to the altercation was the car’s driver, who testified at the trial through an Urdu language translator.—
Rebecca Keegan,
The Hollywood Reporter,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Force an impatient couple to bicker in Route 23 traffic.—
Tyler Buchanan,
Axios,
21 Mar. 2025
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Somehow McKay keeps the movie spinning even after Dale and Brennan stop bickering and start sticking together: Adam Scott, as Brennan’s snobby, overachieving brother, makes a terrific common enemy.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
TIME,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
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As the quarrel over seating escalated, the attacker, who was wearing a black face mask, slashed the victim on his left hand with an unknown weapon.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
26 Feb. 2025
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The quarrel swiftly escalated when Perez allegedly struck her twice on the left side of her temple and pulled her hair.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Current Social Science Research Approaches Are Limited For decades, Lahlou argues, the social sciences and their applications in fields as diverse as marketing and industrial psychology have focused primarily on individual psychology and interpersonal dynamics.—
Benjamin Voyer,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
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Had the pleasure of traveling, talking, crying, arguing, eating and hanging with this guy all over the globe ...—
Jay Stahl,
USA TODAY,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The White House is trying to have it every way possible in a high-stakes dispute over its speedy deportation of hundreds of immigrants to El Salvador.—
Philip Elliott,
TIME,
17 Mar. 2025
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The dispute came after President Donald Trump invoked a centuries-old law that would give him the ability to deport any noncitizen with little to no due process.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
17 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Among the federal lawsuits fighting to continue the program, a hearing is scheduled Monday in federal court in northern California on a motion to speed up the sharing of evidence.—
Bart Jansen,
USA TODAY,
22 Mar. 2025
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Earlier in the day, President Trump rejected reports that advisor Elon Musk would be briefed on how the U.S. would fight a hypothetical war with China.—
Tara Copp,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The movie, which premieres March 21, has had its fair share of controversies throughout the production process — from Disney's choice to cast Zegler as Snow White to the studio being criticized for perpetuating stereotypes about dwarfs to rumors that Zegler and Gal Gadot don't get along.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
People.com,
21 Mar. 2025
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Early reviews have been positive, but can the positive buzz help audiences digest the poison apple that is Disney's Snow White controversy?—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Everything explodes during a solstice dinner, when Shauna spits in Mari’s venison stew, which leads to the two girls brawling right there at the dinner table.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
14 Feb. 2025
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Cut to the two men brawling in the bowels of a derelict ship in the Miami port, where Spencer has imprisoned and ultimately attempts to drown his son to evade capture.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spat. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.
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