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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Tara Suter, The Hill, 28 Dec. 2025
In 2020, Poe lost his copyright interest in The Black Generation to Král after a falling-out in their creative relationship led to a lawsuit.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 26 Dec. 2025
Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026
Open floor plans are falling out of favor after being popular for many years, Hassen shares.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for falling-out
Noun
Greene has had a public falling-out with Trump over the last few months.
—Tara Suter, The Hill, 28 Dec. 2025
In 2020, Poe lost his copyright interest in The Black Generation to Král after a falling-out in their creative relationship led to a lawsuit.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 26 Dec. 2025
Verb
Though an unlikely duo due to their differences, their friendship is put to the test after a falling out, with the pair left to contemplate the true nature of their feelings for each other.
—Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026
Open floor plans are falling out of favor after being popular for many years, Hassen shares.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for falling-out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for falling-out
Noun
-
Then, with many on the court at this point, Stewart came rushing off the Pistons’ bench to confront Bridges, throwing a punch as their altercation became the focal point of the madness on the hardwood.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
At that point, an altercation ensued, and everyone was eventually forced outside, and the staff shut the door, according to court documents.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The choice not to pick a team has left fans bickering with each other.—
Mike Sullivan,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Much of the comedy in this action-comedy arrives via barbed exchanges between the constantly bickering James and Jonny.—
Richard Kuipers,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The events of Sunday night — dominance on defense, big-time blocks and timely runs — were not the culmination of a Seahawks team outperforming a Las Vegas win total projection, proving pundits wrong and overcoming any odds.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Tartan aligns with all those aesthetics and plaid is already proving to show its strength.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Today the Moon in your sign is at odds with fiery Mars, hinting at domestic quarrels and problems.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
8 Feb. 2026
-
His quarrels with Massie and interest in relitigating the 2020 election seem to animate him more, too.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Just a player who’s like fighting and clawing to play versus looking for a reason maybe not to.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Now, Mendoza tells CNN, the couple is no longer fighting to remain the United States.—
Susana Erazo,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
While on the ground, video shows an officer coming out of the struggle holding a gun, which looks like the picture of the gun released by the Department of Homeland Security.—
Jennifer Mayerle,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
After coming out of retirement ahead of the 2024 season, Lindsey Vonn, 41, has qualified for her fifth Olympics and her first since Pyeongchang 2018.—
Michelle Bruton,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But before the action alights in the location of the latest dispute between adjacent property owners to catch the eye of directors Harrison Fishman and Dylan Redford (yes, grandson of Robert), the shot fills with the telltale red, white and blue of the American flag.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
-
While Japan has seized fishing vessels from South Korea and Taiwan in recent years, the incident is the first involving a vessel from China since 2022 and comes against the backdrop of a major diplomatic dispute between the countries.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Generally, the judges who’ve released detainees say the federal government is wrongly arguing that a statute that historically applied to migrants caught at the border can be applied to anyone seeking to gain legal status to remain in the United States.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
-
In 2014, the New York Times published a six-part series arguing for a repeal on the federal marijuana ban, comparing the government’s treatment of cannabis to the prohibition on alcohol in the 1920s.—
Elaine Mallon,
Baltimore Sun,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Falling-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/falling-out. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
