altercation

American  

[awl-ter-key-shuhn] / ˌɔl tərˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. a heated or angry dispute; noisy argument or controversy.

   Synonyms:

   tiff, squabble, clash, disagreement, quarrel

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altercation British  

/ ˌɔːltəˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. an angry or heated discussion or quarrel; argument

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Etymology

Origin of altercation

1350–1400; Middle English altercacioun < Latin altercātiōn- (stem of altercātiō ). See altercate, -ion

Example Sentences

She couldn’t bring herself to watch a new video showing an earlier altercation between Pretti and federal agents.

From The Wall Street Journal

The 26-year-old was involved in the altercation the night before the third one-day international in Wellington on 1 November – a game England lost.

From BBC

Meanwhile, the two Border Patrol agents who fired shots at Pretti were placed on administrative leave, and a video emerged showing an earlier altercation between federal immigration agents and Pretti.

From The Wall Street Journal

The footage is shaky, apparently recorded by a person moving away from the intersection where the altercation took place.

From The Wall Street Journal

Although government officials have claimed that Good and Pretti were both aggressors in their altercations, footage captured by bystanders appeared to contradict those claims.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• argument
• bickering
• blowup
• brawl
• flap
• fracas
• quarrel
• run-in
• tiff
• wrangle