Bicker

To engage in petty, trivial arguments or disputes; to squabble. bicker often implies a frequent, ongoing pattern of arguing, usually over minor matters. The arguments are typically characterized by a lack of seriousness and can be perceived as annoying or tiresome by those involved or witnessing them. The root of the word suggests a sound of clashing or striking, hinting at the unpleasant nature of the exchange. The disagreements are generally short-lived and don't escalate to significant conflict. The focus is more on the act of arguing itself than on resolving the issue, often involving complaining, whining, or nitpicking.

Bicker meaning with examples

• The siblings would constantly bicker over the smallest things, like who got to choose the TV show or who used the last of the cereal. Their parents eventually tuned it out, resigned to the daily squabbles, but it still disrupted the peace of the household. Their disagreements never amounted to much, usually ending with eye-rolls or brief periods of silence.
• The couple loved each other, but they were also prone to bicker over minor inconveniences. The man thought the house should be kept warmer while the woman thought the heater was too high. The result of this disagreement was often a short argument followed by both sides ultimately giving in, then returning to their own routines.
• The members of the debate team would frequently bicker backstage before competitions. They were competitive by nature, and would often make minor criticisms of each other's planned remarks, which often devolved into lengthy exchanges. However, these spats were often good-natured and constructive, even though they were a point of amusement for their coach.
• The two friends had a habit of bickering about which restaurant to go to. One friend wanted italian and the other preferred thai. This would turn into a battle of reasons as to why their restaurant of choice should be selected. Ultimately they would just pick one, but the process of arriving at the choice was filled with a lot of disagreement.
• During the long road trip, the children in the backseat started to bicker about who got to use the tablet first. Small things like this escalated into a loud clamor with the parents having to interject from the front seat to calm them down. Although they never got past it, they found it quite amusing that they spent the better part of the day bickering.