quarrel

To quarrel means to have an angry argument. It is stronger than simply disagreeing, because it usually suggests emotion, tension, and at least some damage to the mood between the people involved. For example, "The siblings quarreled over the inheritance" suggests a serious and bitter dispute, not a calm exchange of opinions.

A quarrel can be about something important, such as money, values, or loyalty, but it often begins with something small: a misunderstanding, a rude comment, jealousy, or stress. You might say, "They had a silly quarrel about whose turn it was to do the dishes." That kind of sentence shows that the cause may be minor even if the feelings become strong.

The word also works as a noun: "Their quarrel lasted for weeks." In that sentence, it means the argument itself and the bad feeling around it. It is commonly used for personal conflicts rather than formal debates. Two neighbors may quarrel over noise, a couple may quarrel over trust, and old friends may quarrel and then stop speaking for a while.

There is also another, less common meaning of "quarrel": a short crossbow bolt. That meaning comes from a different origin and is rarely confused with the common one in modern English. Most of the time, when people use this word, they mean an angry personal argument.

Because of that, the word often carries a sense of hurt, pride, and distance. A brief quarrel may pass quickly, but a long one can weaken trust and make people drift apart. In stories and in real life, a quarrel is not just noise; it is a moment when a relationship is tested.