Bickered: meaning, definitions and examples

dispute, argue

The word 'bickered' is the past tense of the verb 'bicker', which means to argue or quarrel about petty and trivial matters. It often refers to minor disputes that arise in conversations, typically between people who are in close relationships. Bickering is characterized by a back-and-forth exchange of disagreements, often without any serious intent to hurt the other party. Such arguments are usually seen as light-hearted or unimportant, though they can be annoying.

argued, disputed, quarreled, squabbled, wrangled.

Examples of usage

• They bickered over whose turn it was to wash the dishes.

• The siblings bickered about the last piece of cake.

• During the meeting, the managers bickered about the budget.

• Despite the bickering, they remained good friends.

• The couple often bickered, but they always resolved their differences.