quarrel
1 Americannoun
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an angry dispute or altercation; a disagreement marked by a temporary or permanent break in friendly relations.
- Synonyms:
- fight, difference, controversy, contention, argument
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a cause of dispute, complaint, or hostile feeling.
She has no quarrel with her present salary.
noun
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a square-headed bolt or arrow, formerly used with a crossbow.
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Also a small, square or diamond-shaped pane of glass, as used in latticed windows.
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any of various tools with pyramidal heads.
noun
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an angry disagreement; argument
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a cause of disagreement or dispute; grievance
verb
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to engage in a disagreement or dispute; argue
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to find fault; complain
noun
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an arrow having a four-edged head, fired from a crossbow
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a small square or diamond-shaped pane of glass, usually one of many in a fixed or casement window and framed with lead
Related Words
Quarrel, dissension refer to disagreement and conflict. Quarrel applies chiefly to a verbal disagreement between individuals or groups and is used with reference to a large variety of situations, from a slight and petty difference of opinion to a violent altercation: It was little more than a domestic quarrel. Their quarrel led to the barroom brawl. Dissension usually implies a profound disagreement and bitter conflict. It also applies chiefly to conflict within a group or to members of the same group: dissension within the union; dissension among the Democrats.
Other Word Forms
- quarreler noun
- quarrelingly adverb
- quarreller noun
- unquarreling adjective
- unquarrelling adjective
Etymology
Origin of quarrel1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English querele, from Old French, from Latin querēla, querella “complaint,” noun derivative of querī “to complain”
Origin of quarrel2
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English quarel, from Old French, from Medieval Latin quadrellus, diminutive of Latin quadrus “square”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In 1994, Tori Amos’ U.S. video for her piano anthem “Cornflake Girl” presents a coven of quarreling young women driven through the desert in the back of a pickup truck.
From Salon
She’s not in the center of a quarrel.
From Salon
They sound so childish and innocent, and I think that I will even miss their quarreling.
From Literature
On Friday morning, Bernadette Joy, 40, and her husband AJ, 44, engaged in what seemed like a trivial couple’s quarrel: where to go grocery shopping that night.
From MarketWatch
This week he put me in mind of a woman I once knew who was always roiled, always creating commotion and drama—quarrels, sudden attachments, fiery endings.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
