mindmap root((吵架)) quarrel implies a heated verbal clash followed by strained or severed relations: a bitter ~ that ended their friendship. wrangle suggests a noisy, insistent, often futile dispute: an ongoing ~ over the town's finances. altercation suggests noisy, heated verbal quarreling often with blows: a violent ~ between pro- and anti-abortion groups. squabble implies childish and unseemly wrangling over a petty matter: the children constantly ~ over toys. spat implies a lively but brief dispute over a trifle: the couple averages a ~ a week. tiff implies a trivial dispute marked by ill humor or hurt feelings but without serious consequence: a ~ that was forgotten by dinnertime.