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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of spat
Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 14 July 2025
The latest spat is one of many between Trump and O’Donnell, whose feud dates back nearly two decades.
—Heather Hunter, The Washington Examiner, 14 July 2025
Liam Stack, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2023
South Carolina was on the east bank and Georgia on the west; the temperature was in the fifties, and gray clouds spat water in our faces.
—Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 21 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for spat
Noun
Judkins’ ex-girlfriend told investigators that their spat began at the baggage claim of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, when Judkins got frustrated after reading messages from family members.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 14 July 2025
The latest spat is one of many between Trump and O’Donnell, whose feud dates back nearly two decades.
—Heather Hunter, The Washington Examiner, 14 July 2025
Verb
The teenager first asked the hotel to forgive him, the lawsuit said, but soon flew into a rage, screaming that the hotel was antisemitic and that its employees spat in people’s food.
—Liam Stack, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2023
South Carolina was on the east bank and Georgia on the west; the temperature was in the fifties, and gray clouds spat water in our faces.
—Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 21 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for spat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spat
Noun
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During the altercation, a man pulled a gun and shot Ramirez.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
23 July 2025
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See Jackie Christie and Chantel’s unfortunate altercation above.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
22 July 2025
Verb
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Their repatriation comes amid accusations and bickering over whether either side had targeted civilians and breached the laws of war, and sharp nationalist feuding on social media.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Aug. 2025
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Naturally, while bickering on the phone with each other, both encounter not only ghosts that curse people but also aliens trying to rebuild their race by abducting Earth women.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
Noun
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Your celestial ruler, Mercury, will also station retrograde in your communication sector (for the win), triggering misunderstandings and unnecessary quarrels with siblings or neighbors.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
8 July 2025
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According to writer and historian Geoffrey C. Ward, Johnson had his quarrels inside and outside the ring.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Verb
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Lawyers for the National TPS Alliance argued that Noem's decisions were predetermined by President Donald Trump's campaign promises and motivated by racial animus.—
JANIE HAR,
Arkansas Online,
2 Aug. 2025
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In its response to the lawsuit, the Trump administration argued the court did not have jurisdiction in reviewing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s determination to terminate TPS for the three countries.—
Churchill Ndonwie,
Miami Herald,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Threads on the South Park subreddit and social media have lit up with foul-mouthed complaints from international fans, most of them directed at Paramount and David Ellison’s Skydance Media, whose $8 billion buyout of Paramount is at the heart of the South Park dispute.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
14 July 2025
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But there are still some sour grapes about the big tactical dispute in February.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
14 July 2025
Verb
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Unlike the Biden administration, Trump officials have not fought in the courts to preserve SAVE, and recently, Congress repealed the plan altogether.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Trump’s tariffs are unpopular in polls, and businesses have fought them.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
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There is a bigger lesson to be learned from the controversy: marketers no longer control the narrative.—
Kian Bakhtiari,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
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The Trump administration has been caught up in controversy over the case for weeks as his supporters seek more transparency about Epstein's criminal case files.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
31 July 2025
Verb
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The men Danielson brawled with—Wheeler Yuta, Claudio Castagnoli, and Gabe Kidd—were all members or associates of the Blackpool Combat Club, a faction that Danielson himself founded alongside Moxley.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 July 2025
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Lucas brawls with Jason, fighting for his and everyone else’s life before managing to knock Jason unconscious.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
16 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spat. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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