altercation
/ɒltəˈkeɪʃ(ə)n
/noun
A noisy argument or disagreement, especially in public: I had an altercation with the ticket collector...
- Despite the public altercations, there are many signs that East Asia's two great powers are edging closer together.
- Pilgrims do not engage in any disagreements or altercations.
- The students of this Christian high school are held to a higher code of conduct than might be expected in the public school environment and few fights or violent altercations occur between students.
Synonyms
argument, quarrel, squabble, fight, shouting match, contretemps, disagreement, difference of opinion, dissension, falling-out, dispute, disputation, contention, clash, acrimonious exchange, war of words, wrangle;
Irish, North American, & Australian donnybrook
informal tiff, set-to, run-in, spat, scrap, dust-up
British informal row, barney, slanging match, ding-dong, bust-up, bit of argy-bargy, ruck
British informal, Sport afters
Scottish informal rammy
North American informal rhubarb
archaic broil, miff
Scottish archaic threap, collieshangie
Origin
Late Middle English: from Latin altercatio(n-), from the verb altercari (see altercate).
- non-combatant
- non-combative
- non-combustible
- non-comedogenic
- non-commercial
- non-commissioned
- non-commission officer
- non-committal
- non-committalism
- non-committally
- non-communicable
- non-communicant
- noncommunicating
- non-communicative
- non-communion
- non-communist
- non-commutative
- non-commutativity
- noncompact
- non-compearance
- non-compete
- non-competitive
- non-complex
- non-compliance
- non-compliant