bickering

American

[bik-er-ing] / ˈbɪk ər ɪŋ /

adjective

arguing petulantly or peevishly; wrangling or quarreling.

To raise their daughter properly, the bickering pair must set aside their differences and work on their parenting skills.
flickering.

They deliberately hadn’t fixed the bickering light at the bistro, as it had become an iconic feature of the establishment.
Literary. rushing or making a rushing sound, as water.

The two flutes accompanied by piano sounded like two chirping birds chasing each other above a bickering stream.

noun

the act of engaging in petulant or peevish argument.

Why all this useless bickering over who's best or better?
the act of flickering.

If you’re bothered by the constant bickering of the malfunction light on your motorbike, do a thorough analysis of the wiring.
Literary. the act of rushing or of making a rushing sound, as water.

Over the roar of the falls and the ceaseless bickering of the rain, he heard another sound.

Other Word Forms

unbickering adjective

Etymology

Origin of bickering

First recorded in 1275–1325; bicker ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; bicker ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun senses

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Opening on an already wild scene where the family members are bickering at the hospital deathbed of Linda’s mother, the events of “Big Mistakes” escalate quickly and considerably.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

There was much intra-Senate grousing and griping and bickering in the days preceding Friday morning’s vote.

From Slate • Mar. 28, 2026

The pair are later seen bickering just as they did in the old days.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026

Shots of children too absorbed in their tablets to play with each other intermingle with classic bickering between Tom Hanks‘ Woody and Tim Allen‘s Buzz Lightyear.

From Salon • Feb. 19, 2026

There was bickering and quarreling that sometimes ended in tears and even name-calling.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023