falling-out 1 of 2

noun

ˌfȯ-liŋ-ˈau̇t How to pronounce falling-out (audio)
Definition of falling-outnext
as in altercation
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions the two friends have been lonely and miserable since they had a falling-out

Synonyms & Similar Words

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falling out

2 of 2

verb

present participle of fall out
1
as in bickering
to express different opinions about something often angrily club members were soon falling out about how to spend the money they'd made washing cars

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in proving
to come to be I had planned to have a sports career, but things fell out otherwise

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 falling-out
Noun
Noticeably absent was his eldest son Brooklyn, who earlier this year posted on social media about having a falling-out with his family. — Angeline Jane Bernabe, ABC News, 12 June 2026 Other documents showed Epstein tried to mediate a falling-out between Gates and an adviser, Boris Nikolic, in 2013. — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
Page Six previously reported that Miles Teller and his wife, Keleigh Sperry, did not receive an invitation after having a falling out with Swift. — Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026 Soon after the ceremony, Kloss, who had a brief falling out then rapprochement with the Grammy winner, jetted to Paris Fashion Week, where a curious paparazzo from gossip page Deux Moi had to inquire. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for falling-out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for falling-out
  1. altercation
  2. bickering
  3. proving
  4. quarrel
  5. fighting
  6. coming out
  7. dispute
  8. arguing
Noun
  • The altercation involving Sandoval, Robinson and her father happened in the early morning hours after the couple returned home from a night out at a bar, according to both accounts.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Angelo and the woman’s fiancé got into a brief altercation that resulted in an exchange of gunfire.
    — Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
Definition of altercation
Verb
  • 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 plot centers on bickering couple Joe and Angela, who invite their noisy upstairs neighbors, Hawk and Piña, for dinner.
    — Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
Definition of bickering
Verb
  • Many are now scheduled for next year, proving again that delays are a constant in the space industry.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 3 July 2026
  • As a result of Holzman’s advocacy and Dylan’s example, the singer-songwriter movement was born, once again proving that American music is defined not by its adherence to the past, but by its capacity for reinvention.
    — Ted Olson, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
Definition of proving
Noun
  • The victim got into a quarrel inside Bob’s Classic Barber Shop on Albany Ave.
    — Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 10 June 2026
  • Rounding out the top five names were seven write-in votes for the Sacramento Capitals or Capitols — which could be nicknamed the Caps to avoid quarrels over the spelling — and six votes for the Sacramento Stingers or Sting, referencing the collegiate Sacramento State Hornets.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026
Definition of quarrel
Verb
  • Police encountered teens fighting, launching fireworks at other people and carrying handguns.
    — Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
  • This serum is great for fading dark spots, boosting collagen production, and fighting visible signs of aging like fine lines and dullness.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 4 July 2026
Definition of fighting
Verb
  • Iraq wants permission to produce a record 5 million barrels a day coming out of the war, with a long-term aim of getting production up to 7 million barrels a day, Bloomberg reported.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Here are five new ones coming out this summer, including four by Atlanta authors ranging from veteran megaseller Karin Slaughter to up-and-comer Frank Reddy.
    — Suzanne Van Atten, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of coming out
Noun
  • Herzog won a power struggle in the front office, then quit anyway, amid disputes with ownership.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • The court was established in 2001 and began functioning four years later as both an international court to settle disputes among Caribbean countries and as a final court of appeal.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
Definition of dispute
Verb
  • In 2022, Kroger announced a plan to merge with rival Albertsons, arguing that a larger chain would be better able to compete against rivals.
    — Michelle Chapman, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • The Department of Justice on Thursday declined to turn over additional information from the Epstein files as ordered by a judge, arguing the materials include sensitive victim information or were appropriately redacted as required by law.
    — Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 2 July 2026
Definition of arguing

Browse Nearby Words

falling on one's face
falling-out
falling out
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Cite this Entry

“Falling-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/falling-out. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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