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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of spat
David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
Avoid arguments, spats, disagreements, squabbles, and out-and-out fights as much as possible.
—Eli Amdur, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
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
Musk & co are motivated only by burnishing their wealth while their opponents in the H1-B spat gain power by continually playing the immigration card.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
Avoid arguments, spats, disagreements, squabbles, and out-and-out fights as much as possible.
—Eli Amdur, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
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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In 2016, the actress filed for divorce after accusing Pitt of physically abusing her and their children during an altercation on a private jet.Ashley Hume, Fox News, 31 Dec. 2024
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Two years ago, Jolie filed a countersuit over a dispute about the sale of her half of the pair’s winery that detailed an altercation in 2016 including Pitt being physically aggressive to both Jolie and their children.Max Goldbart, Deadline, 31 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The pair grow up frequently bickering with each other but begin dating in high school—only to end their relationship on bad terms when Seok Ji-won abruptly leaves town with his family.Regina Kim, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
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The sellers are Lydia (Lisa Kudrow) and Paul (Ray Romano), bickering empty nesters saddled with financial woes and a dark secret.Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The heads of corporate branding cook up a brief, a design firm answers with a litany of slides, and, after iterations, interventions, and internal quarrels, the sign arrives in the physical plane, with glossy acrylic letterforms and antiseptic light.Laura Preston, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
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The key is to keep communication clear and avoid overreacting to petty quarrels and misunderstandings.Valerie Mesa, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Around that time, a few pioneering researchers argued that clinical decision-making should be grounded in the best available evidence.Aaron J. Masino, The Conversation, 10 Jan. 2025
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Fubo sued shortly after the announcement, arguing that Venu violated antitrust rules.Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The dispute originated with a recurring issue in the River Valley when strong odors are emitted from a biowaste storage lagoon in the Arkansas River bottom in Crawford County.Penny Weaver, arkansasonline.com, 2 Jan. 2025
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The neighbor whose property disputes require legal intervention rather than friendly conversation.Nik Ershov, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Trump fought against their release until 2021, when the Supreme Court rejected his subsequent efforts to shield the financial records from prosecutors.Graham Kates, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2025
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In addition to the Sunset Fire, crews are fighting to contain the rapidly spreading Palisades and Eaton fires, as well as the Hurst, Lidia and Woodley blazes.Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
Noun
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While the legal battle is ongoing with the Swiss high court (and likely to be prolonged), Chiles reflected in November on the impact of the controversy.Caroline Price, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
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Meanwhile, Johnson enters the new year trying to ditch the missteps and the controversies that have left his political standing in the dust.Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Several hours after members of Michigan and Ohio State's football team brawled over a flag-plant at midfield, a similar incident occurred in North Carolina.Ryan Morik, Fox News, 1 Dec. 2024
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Damian Priest brawled with the Judgment Day and lost.Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
Articles Related to spat
Thesaurus Entries Near spat
Cite this Entry
“Spat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spat. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
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