as in quarrels
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
like any couple, they have their spats
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in bickers
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 spats
John Towfighi, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026
As Hague and Beijing continued their diplomatic and legal spats over Nexperia, Nexperia’s China unit unveiled shocking new leverage.
—Jill Goldenziel, Forbes.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Entire YouTube channels have sprung up to document comedians’ latest spats, and even the least popular videos on these channels are watched more than the average YouTube comedy special.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2025
The two-day process was marked by ardent objection from major medical organizations, internal spats among members and a stark lack of data to support altering decades-long vaccine guidance.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 5 Dec. 2025
Further, most float escorts are required to wear spats over their shoes, so bulky footwear wouldn't fit beneath them.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
The two had small spats here and there early on, mostly about communication style.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 22 Oct. 2025
Personal spats and legal battles would keep Frehley and Criss out of the mix, for the most part.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025
Local spats could now feed into a mass movement that spread far beyond individual disputes between a peasant and a particularly nasty abbot or lord.
—Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
Beijing last year implemented some export controls on rare earths during trade spats, raising concerns about America’s lack of secure supply chains for these critical materials.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026
As Hague and Beijing continued their diplomatic and legal spats over Nexperia, Nexperia’s China unit unveiled shocking new leverage.
—Jill Goldenziel, Forbes.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Entire YouTube channels have sprung up to document comedians’ latest spats, and even the least popular videos on these channels are watched more than the average YouTube comedy special.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2025
The two-day process was marked by ardent objection from major medical organizations, internal spats among members and a stark lack of data to support altering decades-long vaccine guidance.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 5 Dec. 2025
Further, most float escorts are required to wear spats over their shoes, so bulky footwear wouldn't fit beneath them.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
The two had small spats here and there early on, mostly about communication style.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 22 Oct. 2025
Personal spats and legal battles would keep Frehley and Criss out of the mix, for the most part.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025
Local spats could now feed into a mass movement that spread far beyond individual disputes between a peasant and a particularly nasty abbot or lord.
—Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spats
Noun
-
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
-
This is the style that Newsom has employed on broadcasts with figures like Kirk and in public quarrels with Joe Rogan.—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The pope, played by Samora la Perdida, is a mincing oaf who bickers with Galas about the value of translating Wagner.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The lawsuit claims that Metcalf had a history of being involved in altercations and alleges that Ford Field should have known about Metcalf's history and failed to protect Kennedy.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Clark warned him against becoming involved in any physical altercations.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
However, fights outside the dojo or a tournament were rare for Warren’s students.—
Everett Eaton,
jsonline.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The Calpak Luka Mini Softside Carry-on feels more like a plush weekender than a spinner, and the Bagsmart Hardside Carry-on zips open clamshell-style and never fights me at TSA.—
Brandon Schultz,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
At least five competing proposals have emerged from major coalitions, several of which have fractured in recent days as internal disputes deepened.—
JACQUELINE CHARLES MIAMI HERALD,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
-
At least five competing proposals have emerged from major coalitions, several of which have fractured in recent days as internal disputes deepened.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Still, some major employers either believe AI tools will make junior staff more productive, as is the case with IBM, or that challenging early-career workers was necessary to maintain a talent pipeline, as PwC argues.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The complaint argues that Harvard’s failure to provide records violates a material term of its federal financial assistance and hampers the government’s ability to complete its review.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Anthropic’s founders are former OpenAI employees who left over disagreements about the ChatGPT maker’s direction, approach to safety and pace of AI development.—
Hadas Gold,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Instead, Sarandos bit his tongue for what must have been the 20th time that afternoon and offered the mildest of disagreements, saying only that most Americans don’t view Netflix as either Republican or Democratic.—
Josef Adalian,
Vulture,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In the early days of tour rehearsal, Johannes shows up and immediately clashes with Celeste, causing more stress for Charli.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
-
He is paired with an arrogant young partner (Lou), a second-generation political scion whose personality clashes sharply with his own.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spats. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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