bicker
11 synonyms and 1 antonym for bicker, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To argue repeatedly over small, unimportant things.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To argue repeatedly over small, unimportant things.
“The siblings bickered over who got the last slice of pizza.”
Opposites
How to use bicker
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
bicker constantly
bicker over something trivial
Etymology
From Middle English bikeren, "to attack," traced back through Middle Dutch bicken, "to stab or thrust," to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to smash or break" — a much more violent origin than today's meaning of petty squabbling.
Full origin of bicker →Frequently asked questions
What does “bicker” mean?
The word “bicker” means to argue repeatedly over small, unimportant things. In plain terms, to argue repeatedly over small, often trivial things, rather than one serious dispute.
How do you pronounce “bicker”?
“Bicker” is pronounced BIH-kuh (/ˈbɪkɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “bicker” in a sentence?
Here is “bicker” used in a sentence: “The siblings bickered over who got the last slice of pizza.”
What is another word for “bicker”?
Words with a similar meaning to “bicker” include wrangle.
What part of speech is “bicker”?
Depending on how it is used, “bicker” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “bicker” come from?
The word “bicker” comes from Middle English.
How many meanings does “bicker” have?
“Bicker” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to argue repeatedly over small, unimportant things.
