A quarrel is a disagreementA situation where people do not have the same opinion or view. that gets heatedShowing strong emotion; becoming angry or intense.. It can also mean to argue or disagree. There is an older, much less common noun sense for a crossbowA weapon that shoots bolts using a horizontal bow mounted on a stock. bolt.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈkwɔrəl/
Easy pronunciation: KWOR-uhl (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress is on the first syllable.
Noun meaning an angry dispute.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Quarrel Meaning
a heated argument or disagreement
Part of speech: noun
Definition: an angry dispute
Example: They had a quarrel over money.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- row — A common, natural synonym for an angry argument.
- run-in — Works well for a brief or unpleasant disagreement.
- wrangle — Fits a heated dispute, though it can sound a little more formal.
- dustup — An informal word for a noisy argument or fight.
- words — Used in the phrase 'have words,' meaning to argue.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Quarrel
Meaning 2
to argue or disagree about something
Part of speech: verb
Definition: have a disagreement over something
Example: They quarreled over who should pay.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- dispute — Can mean to argue about a fact, claim, or issue.
- altercate — A formal word meaning to argue heatedly.
- argufy — An informal or dialectal word for arguing.
Meaning 3
a crossbow bolt
Part of speech: noun
Definition: an arrow that is shot from a crossbow; has a head with four edges
Example: The hunter loaded a quarrel into the crossbow.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Quarrel Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- row
- run-in
- wrangle
- dustup
- words
verb: have a disagreement over something
- dispute
- altercate
- argufy
noun: an arrow shot from a crossbow
- crossbow bolt
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Don't confuse quarrel with the crossbow sense, which is rare and historical.
- As a verb, quarrel is usually followed by 'with' or 'over' in modern English.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does quarrel mean?
Quarrel usually means an angry argument or disagreement. It can also be a verb meaning to argue or disagree.
What is a simple synonym for quarrel?
Common synonyms for the noun sense include row, run-in, and wrangle.
Is quarrel used as a verb?
Yes. As a verb, it means to disagree or argue about something.
Does quarrel have another meaning?
Yes. A much older noun sense means a crossbow bolt, but that use is rare today.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.