1
as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
a quarrelsome student who was always being sent to the principal's office for starting fights in the halls
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in contentious
given to arguing
you're so quarrelsome: you can never do anything without a fuss
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of quarrelsome
Stereophonic could be called a workplace drama, a quarrelsome family play or even an extended hangout, as much a vibe as a story.
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David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
The romantic pentagon’s members are quarrelsome, foolish, and discombobulated by the passage of time—characters often describe themselves as being a bore or a burden, or as having missed their moment.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
The battlegrounds have also multiplied, from a few notoriously quarrelsome parent councils to traditionally peaceful spots around the city.
—Troy Closson, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
The almost too-perfect sibling rivalry storyline marched on following the release of 2001’s Lions and a joint tour with fellow famously quarrelsome brother duo Oasis — winkingly called the Tour of Brotherly Love — after which the Crowes went on hiatus in 2002.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for quarrelsome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quarrelsome
Adjective
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The two were very aggressive from the start of the fight, with a lot of output.—
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There are also more aggressive interventions for people with severe allergies who don’t respond to other medicines like desensitization therapy, also known as allergy shots.—
Adjective
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Given the timing, data about Wisconsin’s contentious judicial race is less plentiful than what might be on hand, say, during a presidential or midterm election.—
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The pair, who called it quits for the second time in August 2023, are still in the midst of their contentious divorce.—
Adjective
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Israel ended its ceasefire with the Hamas militant group and renewed its air and ground war last month.—
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From Myanmar comes the story of a student turned insurgent who joined a militant guerilla group set on overthrowing the country’s military junta.—
Adjective
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Trump administration cuts public health jobs, funding HHS, led by controversial Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., plans to go from about 82,000 to 62,000 full-time employees, the department said in a statement last week.—
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Several of the cases were brought by Buzbee, a controversial lawyer from Houston.—
Adjective
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Andreas typically waits until there have been three instances of potential hostile communication before asking her friend or colleague if everything is OK.—
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Home to one of the world’s largest refugee populations – most of them from Afghanistan – Pakistan has not always welcomed the foreigners, subjecting them to hostile living conditions and threatening deportation over the years.—
Adjective
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Described by family as larger-than-life in personality and stature, the 6-foot-5-inch Wesley is remembered as a jovial, fiercely stubborn man with a quick wit and passion for advocacy.—
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Happy Birthday for Saturday, March 29, 2025: You are opinionated and stubborn.—
Adjective
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Strong winds also may have North Texans feeling more irritable, which scientists blame on there being too many positive ions in the air.—
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Signs of overextension burnout include feeling emotionally drained, becoming irritable and struggling to focus—all of which can affect both your work and personal life.—
Adjective
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The American military presence in Asia is seen by allies as a critical counterbalance in a fractious region where China has been rapidly expanding its military might and a belligerent North Korea has been empowered by closer ties with Russia.—
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Successful long ago, Shelley is no longer a selling Machine of any sort, and mostly just begs for a break in comically desperate appeals that ping-pong from belligerent to pathetic.—
Cite this Entry
“Quarrelsome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quarrelsome. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.
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