A quarrel is an angry argument or disagreement, usually about something relatively small. When two friends quarrel over whose turn it is to choose the game, or siblings quarrel about who gets to sit in the front seat, they're having a heated dispute that feels important in the moment.

Quarrels typically involve raised voices, hurt feelings, and stubbornness on both sides. Unlike a calm discussion where people listen to each other, a quarrel happens when emotions take over and people stop really hearing what the other person is saying. You might quarrel with your parents about bedtime, or classmates might quarrel over the rules of a playground game.

The word can be used as a verb or a noun. Two neighbors might quarrel about a fence (verb), or you might try to resolve a quarrel between friends (noun). People sometimes say they have “no quarrel with” someone or something, meaning they have no complaint or disagreement: “I have no quarrel with pepperoni pizza, but I prefer cheese.”

Most quarrels blow over quickly once people calm down and remember that their relationship matters more than winning the argument.