cross fires

noun

plural of cross fire
as in quarrels
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions viewers tune in to witness the weekly cross fire between the liberal and conservative commentators

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cross fires
  1. quarrels
  2. disputes
  3. altercations
  4. disagreements
  5. fights
  6. controversies
  7. arguments
  8. rows
Noun
  • Candi is the family mediator Like any father-daughter coaching dynamic, Corey and Coco have had their fair share of quarrels on the tennis court.
    — Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 9 July 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 quarrels
Noun
  • The article also underscores that most ordinary voters pay little or no attention to these calendar disputes, implicitly criticizing party insiders for obsessing over process while the public is focused on daily life and more immediate concerns.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • And the vast majority of disputes are being won by providers, who are getting payouts that can far exceed the industry standard.
    — Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of disputes
Noun
  • Often, altercations involving a resident with dementia erupt after danger signals are missed or ineffectively addressed, according to a KFF Health News examination of court records, police reports, and state and federal inspection reports.
    — Jordan Rau, NPR, 19 July 2026
  • Retired Miami Heat forward and captain Udonis Haslem found himself in more than a few altercations during his NBA playing career.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
Definition of altercations
Noun
  • Health insurers and hospitals tend to keep their contracts confidential, but, judging from each party’s previous comments, disagreements over reimbursement rates were a key issue throughout the negotiations.
    — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • Galanis' testimony offered jurors a glimpse into the family's disagreements over Melina's travel arrangements and her growing concerns about Frattolin's travel plans with their daughter months before Melina's death.
    — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of disagreements
Noun
  • Both Roach, coming off three consecutive draws in title fights, and Zepeda, looking to bounce back from a loss, desperately need a decisive win.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • That divide has become more pronounced as national politics seep into local education fights.
    — Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of fights
Noun
  • Ferguson said that the years of lawsuits and controversies involving the department have contributed to a lack of public trust.
    — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
  • Collins’ former chief of staff Brandon Phillips was fired in May after several controversies.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of controversies
Noun
  • Yolo County Deputy District Attorney Alex Kian told jurors during closing arguments that Dominguez chose to attack his victims, repeatedly stab them and flee afterward.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 21 July 2026
  • As the battle for grass fields escalates, the lawyer in me can’t resist sharing the arguments for and against switching entirely to grass.
    — Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 21 July 2026
Definition of arguments
Noun
  • Rafaela turned on it and sent a towering solo homer three rows deep in left-center field.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Bleacher seats in the top rows of the 7,500-seat main stadium were going for $100 on the secondary market in the middle of the week.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of rows
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.

Browse Nearby Words

cross fire
cross fires
cross-grained
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Cite this Entry

“Cross fires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cross%20fires. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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