as in to bicker
to express different opinions about something often angrily
this discussion is so silly we might as well altercate on how many angels can dance on the point of a needle
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for altercate
Verb
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For months, top state officials have been bickering about how best to deport people and positioning for Trump’s approval in the upcoming 2026 midterm races for governor, attorney general and other key positions.—
Katelyn Ferral,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2025 -
In the days leading up to the decision, bickering among jury members appeared to delay the verdict.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
11 June 2025
Verb
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But McBride argues that, by this point, Americans had begun viewing hair style as a personal choice, making Jones’s ultimatums controversial.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
21 July 2025
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Critics will argue that normalization is politically suicidal for any Pakistani leader.—
Jack Rosen,
New York Daily News,
21 July 2025
Verb
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The tribe also has fought to preserve shrinking numbers of the c'waam and koptu, two fish species central to the three tribal cultures that form the tribe.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
AZCentral.com,
21 July 2025
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Experts say the relatively simple way to survive this current is to float, stay as calm as possible and don’t fight it.—
Tresa Baldas,
Freep.com,
21 July 2025
Verb
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Maliciously or willfully disturbing a funeral, memorial service, procession or burial ceremony. Threatening, quarreling or challenging to fight someone, or fighting.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
16 June 2025
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After much quarrelling, with India threatening a boycott which would essentially sink the tournament, there was a compromise reached just two months out of the event.—
Tristan Lavalette,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Fans also try to tear down fences and clash with police at a Death From Above 1979 reunion show at the Beauty Bar.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
23 July 2025
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Chantel’s aggressive, no-nonsense delivery clashed with Jackie’s passive-deflective tone, turning what could’ve been a breakthrough into yet another blow-up.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
22 July 2025
Verb
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The first is that when U.S. soldiers returned from the war there, protesters spat upon them in disdain.—
Jonathan Zimmerman,
Foreign Affairs,
19 May 2016
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The flare comes after nearly a week of flares and coronal plasma ejections spat toward the planet that threatened disruptions to power and communications systems on Earth.—
Greg Wehner,
Fox News,
15 May 2024
Verb
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One National League hitting coach, however, disputed talk that Suárez is likely to regress from his 36 homers and .918 OPS entering Friday night’s play.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
26 July 2025
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The migrants' lawyers have disputed the gang membership claims and said their clients were not given a chance to contest the government's assertions.—
Jan Wolfe,
USA Today,
25 July 2025
Verb
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These two pros were peaking this match perfectly. Rollins and Punk brawled on the table, and Seth hit a Pedigree on Punk.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
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The president spoke as if a war between nations was similar to a fight between brawling children.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Altercate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/altercate. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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