as in altercations
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
like any couple, they have their spats
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in bickers
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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of spats
Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Sep. 2025
As with other such contract spats, this one looks centered on higher programming fees being sought by Fox Corp.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 27 Aug. 2025
Starr's business partner Keith McNally — known for iconic eateries like Balthazar and social media spats with celebrities like James Corden — established his brand for years before the duo partnered up.
—Hadley Hitson, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
Canceled also highlights other controversies in Deen's career, including her public spats with Bourdain, the world-traveling chef and CNN travel documentarian who later died by suicide in 2018.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Sep. 2025
As with other such contract spats, this one looks centered on higher programming fees being sought by Fox Corp.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 27 Aug. 2025
Starr's business partner Keith McNally — known for iconic eateries like Balthazar and social media spats with celebrities like James Corden — established his brand for years before the duo partnered up.
—Hadley Hitson, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spats
Noun
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The omission was wrong — whether or not it was related to those altercations — as was the employee’s failure to understand that this is not a business occasion.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
15 Sep. 2025
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Following the altercations, Outside spoke with a dog behavioral expert for insight into what triggers our trail comrades and how best to respond during stressful situations.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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International investment treaty disputes are arbitrated under a third-party institution that employs attorneys who specialize in international law and have no particular ties to either party.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
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The California Governor’s Office disputes Kominski’s characterization of contractor donations as a vector for political influence.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The September 12 report shared that RBW had actually fired Lee in August, citing declining profitability, management difficulties, and disagreements over new artist direction.—
Jeff Benjamin,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Its first-ever color feature, In the Shadow of Honor, which was going to be filmed in Indonesia, was canceled due to disagreements between the two countries related to colonial war reparations.—
Michael Taube,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As always, secrets emerge, fights ensue, and Madea makes a speech to bring everyone back together.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Sep. 2025
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As the immune system fights the infection, the tissues in the urinary tract become inflamed.—
Mark Gurarie,
Health,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Fraternal security Gulf states have had significant internal quarrels over the years but remain bound by mutual defense treaties signed decades ago.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Runge argues in The Great Healthcare Disruption that innovation without humanity risks leaving patients behind, while humanity without innovation risks stalling medical progress.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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And seabed curtains could divert warm water toward other glaciers, the paper argues, or disrupt the upwelling of nutrients that feed phytoplankton—a crucial food for many other species.—
Alec Luhn,
Scientific American,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But before this, Eververse controversies were not usually 1) a set of armor very clearly being taken from a free activity and made paid and 2) the game being in one of its worst states of all time with player sentiment bottomed out.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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But the city has also faced a recent string of controversies under her leadership and calls for greater transparency.—
Nick Sullivan,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Coerced into a conversion therapy program, Jared clashes with its hostile leader (Joel Edgerton), igniting a transformative journey of self-acceptance.—
Alex Gurley,
People.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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The feces contrast with her teeth in a way that inexplicably clashes with her eyeshadow, and the vignette is instantly burned in your brain.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spats. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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