BICKERING Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

bickering

verb

Definition of bickering

present participle of bicker

as in arguing

to express different opinions about something often angrily if you two don't stop bickering about where to go to eat, we're not going out at all!

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of bickering Like law enforcement agents everywhere, they’re disposed to bickering about jurisdiction or pumping each other for off-limits information. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026 There’s striker Josie Gordon, bickering twin sisters Siobhan and Niamh, glove-shunning goalie Katie ‘Boots’ Quinn and couple Maddie and Margy. — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 Back at the base, the team is still bickering with the other troopers. — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 2 Aug. 2026 After bickering with Percy over her involvement in the mission, Thalia ultimately drives away from the scene. — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 23 July 2026 Establishment figures such as Jeffries and the party’s 2028 presidential candidates will need to grasp that the relationship between the DSA and the Democratic Party is not one of occasionally bickering siblings, but of parasite and host. — James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026 Several weeks back, Clark and White were caught bickering during a timeout huddle against the expansion Portland Fire. — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 27 June 2026 The emotional distress may have stemmed from the family's extended trip together and bickering, his mother told USA TODAY on June 3. — Saleen Martin, USA Today, 3 June 2026 While the concrete cured, the starting eight matches of the first-ever World Cup were relocated to Pocitos and Gran Parque Central, the home grounds of capital rivals Peñarol and Nacional, who'd been bickering since their first meeting in July 1900. — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bickering

Verb

The Virginia appeals court is being asked to invalidate the amendment, arguing state lawmakers failed to follow proper procedures before putting it before voters.

— Amy DeLaura, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026
Means, along with his sister, came to prominence within the MAHA movement by arguing that ultraprocessed foods, additives and pesticides could be blamed for many of the chronic health conditions facing Americans.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of arguing

Verb

The two were among two quarreling groups inside the club that began to fight, according to the report.

— Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
Sunday, a caller reported hearing two men quarreling and someone stating that a person would be taken into custody.

— Adam Harrington, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of quarreling

Verb

The discovery raises the possibility of a grim outcome in the search for the four men, which has led to El Salvador deploying 450 special forces soldiers to Haiti as of Friday to aid the gang-fighting force in the search.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2026
The whole idea is for Israel to keep fighting, because endless wars serve Netanyahu to maintain… a constant state of emergency.

— Daniel Estrin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of fighting

Verb

Mills, sympathetic to conspiratorial beliefs about the 2020 election and hailed by some election skeptics as a champion of voting integrity, has long clashed with members, squabbling over his power.

— Caleb Groves, AJC.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Later in the day, on the other hand, the artificial grass was hardly visible under the beach towels, and there were parents with squabbling children doing cannonballs into the pool.

— Elvira Navarro, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of squabbling

Verb

Protests last week devolved into mayhem, with people setting fires, storming public buildings, smashing shop windows, looting and clashing with police.

— ELITSA GADEVA, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
Aside from clashing over national topics like tariffs, the Iran war, artificial intelligence and Social Security, the candidates were asked about jobs in Michigan, the auto industry and education.

— DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of clashing

Verb

Grammy award-winning singer Chris Brown to be sentenced over brawling at a London nightclub three years ago.

— Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 26 Oct. 2026
Combs was previously placed in solitary confinement after brawling with another inmate back in July.

— Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of brawling

Browse Nearby Words

bickerers

bickering

bickers

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“Bickering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bickering. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of bickering

verb

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