quarrelsome
adjective
quar·rel·some ˈkwȯr(-ə)l-səm 
ˈkwär(-ə)l-
: apt or disposed to quarrel in an often petty manner : contentious
quarrelsomely adverb
quarrelsomeness noun
Synonyms
- aggressive
- agonistic
- argumentative
- assaultive
- bellicose
- belligerent
- brawly
- chippy
- combative
- confrontational
- contentious
- discordant
- disputatious
- feisty
- gladiatorial
- militant
- pugnacious
- scrappy
- truculent
- warlike
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a quarrelsome student who was always being sent to the principal's office for starting fights in the halls you're so quarrelsome: you can never do anything without a fuss
Recent Examples on the Web This poses a real challenge for both employees and employers who might see productivity and morale tank if the negotiating process stretches on too long or becomes quarrelsome. 
Amber Burton, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2022 Chosen as heir by nobles over his elder female cousin Rhaenys (Eve Best), Viserys presides over a quarrelsome court. Sean T. Collins, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2022 So, there was no number 6 on the reasons gold hasn’t rallied hard with inflation, but gold is a classic haven and the world is very quarrelsome at present, with the usual suspects stirring away. Clem Chambers, Forbes, 26 Jan. 2022 Even Jefferson soon had enough of the quarrelsome envoy. Shaun Assael, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 June 2021 How to mold a lasting and resilient nation out of this quarrelsome collection of commonwealths? Kevin Duchschere, Star Tribune, 14 May 2021 The group’s board included Morton Irvine Smith, scion of a quarrelsome California family that once owned much of the land on which Orange County was built. New York Times, 10 Apr. 2021 If people become quarrelsome or negative, don’t take it personally. Tribune Content Agency, oregonlive, 23 Mar. 2021 There are so many things going on that someone could become quarrelsome. Magi Helena, oregonlive, 7 Dec. 2019 See More
Amber Burton, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2022 Chosen as heir by nobles over his elder female cousin Rhaenys (Eve Best), Viserys presides over a quarrelsome court. Sean T. Collins, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2022 So, there was no number 6 on the reasons gold hasn’t rallied hard with inflation, but gold is a classic haven and the world is very quarrelsome at present, with the usual suspects stirring away. Clem Chambers, Forbes, 26 Jan. 2022 Even Jefferson soon had enough of the quarrelsome envoy. Shaun Assael, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 June 2021 How to mold a lasting and resilient nation out of this quarrelsome collection of commonwealths? Kevin Duchschere, Star Tribune, 14 May 2021 The group’s board included Morton Irvine Smith, scion of a quarrelsome California family that once owned much of the land on which Orange County was built. New York Times, 10 Apr. 2021 If people become quarrelsome or negative, don’t take it personally. Tribune Content Agency, oregonlive, 23 Mar. 2021 There are so many things going on that someone could become quarrelsome. Magi Helena, oregonlive, 7 Dec. 2019 See More Word History
First Known Use
1596, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
quarrelsome
adjective
quar·rel·some ˈkwȯr-əl-səm
: usually ready to disagree or argue
a quarrelsome person
quarrelsome
adjective
1
as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight a quarrelsome student who was always being sent to the principal's office for starting fights in the halls Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- aggressive
- militant
- hostile
- contentious
- irritable
- belligerent
- combative
- pugnacious
- warlike
- bellicose
- assaultive
- confrontational
- disputatious
- truculent
- feisty
- argumentative
- ugly
- acidic
- fierce
- agonistic
- savage
- chippy
- scrappy
- rude
- vicious
- discordant
- antagonistic
- brawly
- gladiatorial
- fighting
- irascible
- peevish
- fractious
- fretful
- querulous
- warring
- ornery
- disagreeable
- snappish
- hot-tempered
- petulant
- testy
- choleric
- grouchy
- dyspeptic
- ill-tempered
- surly
- cross
- grumpy
- bilious
- waspish
- crabby
- on the warpath
- bristly
- stroppy
- pettish
- ill-natured
- touchy
- huffy
- ill-humored
- cranky
- battling
- prickly
- bearish
- snappy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- peaceable
- peaceful
- nonaggressive
- amiable
- nonbelligerent
- unwarlike
- pacific
- cordial
- conciliatory
- sociable
- pleasant
- friendly
- benevolent
- genial
- easygoing
- complaisant
- kindhearted
- affable
- amicable
- uncontentious
- gracious
- antimilitarist
- obliging
- ingratiating
- quiet
- calm
- uncombative
- good-tempered
- unbelligerent
- good-natured
- gentle
- mild
- tranquil
- serene
- benign
- relaxed
- anti-imperialist
- kindly
2
as in contentious
given to arguing you're so quarrelsome: you can never do anything without a fuss Synonyms & Similar Words
- contentious
- controversial
- aggressive
- stubborn
- polemic
- irritable
- disputatious
- argumentative
- militant
- polemical
- belligerent
- scrappy
- combative
- pugnacious
- unreasonable
- warlike
- bellicose
- fighting
- fractious
- truculent
- willful
- rude
- feisty
- ornery
- surly
- disobedient
- disagreeable
- insubordinate
- irascible
- resistant
- obstinate
- peevish
- restive
- cantankerous
- uncooperative
- fretful
- warring
- querulous
- headstrong
- wayward
- contrary
- captious
- snappish
- recalcitrant
- pigheaded
- petulant
- intractable
- testy
- choleric
- grouchy
- dyspeptic
- gladiatorial
- ill-tempered
- refractory
- balky
- obdurate
- mulish
- grumpy
- splenetic
- acidic
- bilious
- battling
- waspish
- crabby
- unbending
- cross
- self-willed
- perverse
- pettish
- ill-natured
- uncompromising
- touchy
- hardheaded
- froward
- huffy
- ill-humored
- cranky
- unyielding
- wilful
- self-opinionated
- bearish
- snappy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- amiable
- pleasant
- cordial
- friendly
- benevolent
- cooperative
- sociable
- easygoing
- genial
- amicable
- affable
- gracious
- conciliatory
- ingratiating
- agreeable
- good-tempered
- complaisant
- good-natured
- acquiescent
- amenable
- obedient
- compliant
- docile
- complying
- submissive
- tractable
- peaceable
- obliging
- peaceful
- pacific
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of quarrelsome are bellicose, belligerent, contentious, and pugnacious. While all these words mean "having an aggressive or fighting attitude," quarrelsome stresses an ill-natured readiness to fight without good cause.
the heat made us all quarrelsome
The words bellicose and quarrelsome can be used in similar contexts, but bellicose suggests a disposition to fight.
a drunk in a bellicose mood
Although the words belligerent and quarrelsome have much in common, belligerent often implies being actually at war or engaged in hostilities.
belligerent nations
While the synonyms contentious and quarrelsome are close in meaning, contentious implies perverse and irritating fondness for arguing and quarreling.
wearied by his contentious disposition
In some situations, the words pugnacious and quarrelsome are roughly equivalent. However, pugnacious suggests a disposition that takes pleasure in personal combat.
a pugnacious gangster