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😠 To argue briefly 😠 A small argument 🥚 To release eggs 👞 Shoe covering 🦪 To attach (mollusk) 🦪 A young oyster 💧 To hit noisily
to spat

to spat

25 4.9
To have a short, unimportant argument with someone
  • verb
  • /spæt/
translation icon : pelearse

Examples

  • Classmates took his things, spat in his food, and called Tyler names.

    Academic text (2015)

  • "Why didn't you tear it up?" someone spat from the far corner of the room.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • "You don't love me!" She spat into the snow to emphasize her point.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • "Do you know what you countenance?" spat Brigit, still pale with fury.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • They aIways used to spat about which one wouId make the best actress.

    Alice Adams (1935)

  • During recess, the two friends had a small spat over who should go first on the slide.

  • After their brief spat about the movie, they quickly made up and laughed together.

  • The argument between the siblings was just a spat about whose turn it was to wash the dishes.

Synonyms

to bicker
vsto spat
36 4.1

Argue again and again with someone about small unimportant things

is a single short clash rather than continuous petty arguing
to quarrel
vsto spat
35 2.6

To argue angrily with someone about small things

is milder and shorter than an angry or heated disagreement
to quibble
vsto spat
26 7.0

To argue about small unimportant details to avoid the main point

focuses on a brief quarrel itself rather than tactic of nitpicking
to spar
vsto spat
5 7.1

To argue in a friendly, quick way without serious anger

is more often a short serious or neutral petty disagreement
to scrap
vsto spat
  • Informal
5 4.1

To have a small fight about something unimportant

is a short trivial argument rather than a slightly larger or lasting fight
to niggle
vsto spat
  • UK
1 8.2

To argue about very small, unimportant details

is about a brief exchange rather than ongoing small criticisms
to stickle
vsto spat
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To argue in a stubborn way about small unimportant details

is brief and trivial rather than stubbornly prolonged disagreement
to tiff
vsto spat
  • Informal
6.8

To have a small argument with a friend or partner

is similar but not limited to close relationships or friendliness
to argufy
vsto spat
  • Archaic
9.9

To disagree angrily about small, unimportant things

is specifically short and minor rather than possibly longer disputes
to brabble
vsto spat
  • Archaic
9.9

To argue loudly about small unimportant things

is usually quieter and shorter rather than loud prolonged noise
to skirmish over
vsto spat
6.7

Argue a little about something, like where to eat

is a short trivial quarrel rather than any physical or formal clash
to pettifog
vsto spat
  • Archaic
9.9

Argue about small, unimportant details and waste time

is a simple brief quarrel, not a manipulative or legalistic dispute

Antonyms

to reconcile
38 5.1

To become friendly again after a disagreement

How Serious

to brawl
9 4.4
to fight
∞ 1.0
to quarrel
35 2.6
to spat
25 4.9
to bicker
36 4.1

Surface Forms

spat infinitive
spat past
spat past participle
spatting present participle
spats third person singular

Etymology

Spat (to argue briefly) comes from the same idea as spit, meaning 'to force out quickly'. To spat is to exchange quick, sharp words, so it means to have a short and unimportant argument.