See spat in Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus II
noun
A discussion, often heated, in which a difference of opinion is expressed:
altercation, argument, bicker, clash, contention, controversy, debate, difficulty, disagreement, dispute, fight, polemic, quarrel, run-in, squabble, tiff, word (used in plural), wrangle. (Informal) hassle, rhubarb, tangle. See conflict- (Informal)
A quick, sharp blow, especially with the hand:
box2, buffet, bust, chop1, cuff, punch, slap, smack1, smacker, spank, swat, whack. (Informal) clip1. See attack, strike
verb
To engage in a quarrel:
argue, bicker, contend, dispute, fight, quarrel, quibble, squabble, tiff, wrangle. (Informal) hassle, tangle. Idioms: cross swords, have it out, have words, lock horns. See conflict- (Informal)
To hit with a quick, sharp blow of the hand:
box2, buffet, bust, cuff, punch, slap, smack1, spank, swat, whack. (Informal) clip1. See attack, strike
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