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
Michael Teo Van Runkle, ArsTechnica, 30 May 2025
The rallying cry by McAfee, a former Indianapolis Colts punter, further perpetuated the small city vs. big city spat that has hung over the Knicks-Pacers rivalry since their frequent playoff bouts in the 1990s.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 29 May 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
This freed up more space for additional cooling via the front fascia, which further benefits from canard spat dive planes.
—Michael Teo Van Runkle, ArsTechnica, 30 May 2025
The rallying cry by McAfee, a former Indianapolis Colts punter, further perpetuated the small city vs. big city spat that has hung over the Knicks-Pacers rivalry since their frequent playoff bouts in the 1990s.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 29 May 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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Jaques said officers at 7:49 a.m. on Sunday received a complaint from a woman who reported that someone was following her vehicle while waving a gun following an altercation at a local gas station.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
27 May 2025
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Initial data provided by the department suggest that practicing the martial art not only helps boost officers' physical and mental health, but also enables cops to use less force during an arrest or altercation.—
Katja Ridderbusch,
NPR,
26 May 2025
Verb
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There’s a genuine brother-and-sister warmth between the Andy and Piper characters in Bring Her Back — and plenty of sibling bickering too.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
30 May 2025
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Yet a design challenge is a smart choice to assign this particular group of queens because that means locking them in the workroom to bicker between assembling garments.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
23 May 2025
Noun
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The defense attorney suggested that Cassie’s rape allegation stemmed from a complicated quarrel playing out as their decade-plus relationship came to an end.—
Victoria Bekiempis,
Vulture,
16 May 2025
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Other great powers will have their territorial goals and quarrels and this does not normally concern you.—
Frank Lavin,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
Verb
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Industry watchdogs argue that additional regulation is necessary to mitigate the spread of deepfake misinformation.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
3 June 2025
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The Entertainment Union Coalition argues that the bill will also help retain the existing workforce, which otherwise would continue to erode.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
3 June 2025
Noun
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The Supreme Court on May 27 declined to get involved in a dispute about mining on land sacred to the San Carlos Apache Tribe, a case that religious groups backed to test the scope of a 1993 federal law protecting religious freedom.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
28 May 2025
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Those CBAs also require that should there be a dispute as to whether the league, a club, a union, or a player abided by their obligations under the CBA, such dispute be settled through a confidential arbitration process.—
Chris Deubert,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
Verb
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Holland has been one of the more active UFC competitors since losing that contest by decision, fighting at middleweight and welterweight.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
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Six engines, three water tenders, one dozer and one hand crew are all continuing to fight the fire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
1 June 2025
Noun
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However, California is far from the only state that saw its girls' track and field championships overshadowed by trans athlete controversy.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2025
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Salgado’s pictures were also freighted with their fair share of controversy.—
Chris Wiley,
New Yorker,
31 May 2025
Verb
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Rollins followed him there and the two brawled on top of the cage.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
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Becky and Lyra inevitably brawled, and Lyra got the better of Lynch.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
5 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spat. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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