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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of spat
Lauran Neergaard,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Momoa, 46, opted for a three-piece suit, pairing it with spats, patent leather shoes, and a tank top, adding a simple pendant necklace.
—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
19 June 2026
Ct Jones,
Rolling Stone,
11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spat
Noun
Days after the spat, the FDA accepted Moderna’s application.
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Lauran Neergaard,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Momoa, 46, opted for a three-piece suit, pairing it with spats, patent leather shoes, and a tank top, adding a simple pendant necklace.
—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
19 June 2026
Verb
Mulroney, Ackerman, Snow, and Newman turn this story of spatting WAGS into an explosive, addictive watch.
—
Ct Jones,
Rolling Stone,
11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spat
Noun
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While Blutinger was speaking, history professor Jonathan Roth attempted to take video of the protesters in the hallway and got into a physical altercation with a female student who tried to block him from doing so.
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During that altercation, the other person shot Perkins several times, police said.
Verb
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Several weeks back, Clark and White were caught bickering during a timeout huddle against the expansion Portland Fire.
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The plot centers on bickering couple Joe and Angela, who invite their noisy upstairs neighbors, Hawk and Piña, for dinner.
Noun
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The legal action is part of a broader series of disputes in the streaming industry over carriage rights, bundling requirements and pricing control.
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The dispute over Mississippi's law dates back to 2024, when the Republican National Committee and Mississippi's Libertarian Party filed lawsuits challenging the ballot-receipt deadline.
Verb
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Srebnick, however, argued that the crash was a tragic accident — and did not amount to a crime.
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While some experts say the government should be involved in conversations about AI safety, others argue the result could stifle the industry.
Noun
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The victim got into a quarrel inside Bob’s Classic Barber Shop on Albany Ave.
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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.
Verb
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Two firefighters died from injures sustained while fighting the blaze.
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The action is set in the 1750s with Washington as a young man eager to fight, initially as a British officer in a period of complex loyalties.
Noun
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Test your knowledge of cruise controversies, wedding whispers and more in this week's American Culture Quiz.
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Williams’ decision to leave the position was a big surprise to the mayor, commissioners and residents, though her departure followed months of controversy and scrutiny.
Verb
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And in an age of boorish, brawling Little League Parents®, perhaps there’s a lesson to be learned from our new friends in the horn hats.
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Another worker described the chaos as well over a dozen teens brawled inside the diner.
Cite this Entry
“Spat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spat. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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