Altercation

/ˌɔːltəˈkeɪʃn̩/ · noun

Meaning

(countable) An angry or heated dispute..

Definitions by Sense

1. (countable) An angry or heated dispute.
2. (countable, law, historical) An act of posing questions to, and obtaining answers from, a witness in a court of law.
3. (uncountable) Angry or heated disputation.

Example Sentences

to get into an altercation over (something)

The shooting resulted from an altercation between two armed intoxicated men.

The truth of my Third Accuſation is confeſt, but the guilt, not acknovvledged; ſince that vvhich excites men to endleſs bavvlings, and altercations; Schiſms, Hereſies and Rebellions, by the vehemencies of Diſpute, is it ſeems vvith our Author no more noxious and criminal, then the Sun that ſtirrs men up to their vvork in the morning, by the importunity of it's beams.

An altercation cannot end in your favour.

[I]n all the disputes in which he was engaged as an Englishman against Englishmen, from his boxing-matches at school to those stormy altercations at the India House and in Parliament amidst which his later years were passed, his very faults were those of a high and magnanimous spirit.

"What the hell is it to you who are my friends?" roared McMurdo in a voice which brought every head in the carriage round to witness the altercation.

The vvhole of this proceſs is denominated the pleading; in the ſeveral ſtages of vvhich it muſt be carefully obſerved, not to depart or vary from the title or defence, vvhich the party has once inſiſted on. For this (vvhich is called a departure in pleading) might occaſion endleſs altercation.

VVee ſeldome find one peece of Scripture ſo preciſely and plainely expounded by another, as in this Prophecie, to haue aftervvards beene the Subiect of altercation.

Synonyms for altercation

Antonyms for altercation

Related Words

Word Forms

• altercations

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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