quarrelsome

UK: /ˈkwɒrəlsəm/ US: (kwôr′əl səm, kwor′-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

quar•rel•some  (kwôr′əl səm, kwor′-), adj. 

1. inclined to quarrel;
   argumentative;
   contentious.

• quarrel¹ + -some¹ 1590–1600

quar′rel•some•ly, adv. 
quar′rel•some•ness, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

quarrelsome / ˈkwɒrəlsəm/ adjective

1. inclined to quarrel or disagree; belligerent

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

quar•rel¹ /ˈkwɔrəl, ˈkwɑr-/   n., v., -reled, -rel•ing or (esp. Brit.) -relled, -rel•ling. 
n. [countable]

1. an angry dispute or argument:
   Whenever we have a quarrel we try to resolve it quickly.
2. a cause of complaint:
   She has no quarrel with her present salary.

v. [no object]

3. to disagree angrily;
   argue;
   squabble;
   wrangle:
   They quarreled about sending their kids to private school.
4. to disagree with something said:
   I'd quarrel with some of the results you're predicting.

quar•rel•er, n. [countable]
quar•rel•some, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

quar•rel¹  (kwôr′əl, kwor′-), n., v., -reled, -rel•ing or (esp. Brit.) -relled, -rel•ling. 
n. 

1. an angry dispute or altercation;
   a disagreement marked by a temporary or permanent break in friendly relations.
2. a cause of dispute, complaint, or hostile feeling:
   She has no quarrel with her present salary.

v.i. 

3. to disagree angrily;
   squabble;
   wrangle.
4. to end a friendship as a result of a disagreement.
5. to make a complaint;
   find fault.

• Latin querēla, querella a complaint, derivative of querī to complain
• Old French
• Middle English querele 1300–50

quar′rel•er, n. 
quar′rel•ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. argument, contention, controversy, difference, fight.
  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.
• 3. bicker, argue, brawl, fight.

quar•rel²  (kwôr′əl, kwor′-), n. 

1. a square-headed bolt or arrow, formerly used with a crossbow.
2. Building, Architecture Also, quarry. a small, square or diamond-shaped pane of glass, as used in latticed windows.
3. Building any of various tools with pyramidal heads.

• Medieval Latin quadrellus, diminutive of Latin quadrus square
• Old French
• Middle English quarel 1175–1225