Fight vs. Quarrel — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 27, 2023
A fight is a physical or metaphorical confrontation or struggle; a quarrel is a verbal disagreement or argument. Both indicate conflict, but their nature and intensity may differ.
Difference Between Fight and Quarrel
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Fight and Quarrel both signify some form of disagreement or conflict, but their manifestations and connotations differ. A fight typically involves a more aggressive and sometimes physical altercation. Whether in the ring between two boxers or in a struggle for survival, fights suggest a level of intensity and determination. On the other hand, a quarrel often represents a verbal disagreement, where words are the primary tools of confrontation.
In relationships, both Fight and Quarrel have their places. Couples may quarrel over minor issues, like choosing a restaurant or a movie. These disagreements are often short-lived and can be resolved with communication. Fights, however, suggest deeper issues or challenges that might require more effort and time to address, ranging from fundamental differences in values to breaches of trust.
From a linguistic standpoint, Fight and Quarrel have nuances in their usage. While "fight" can be a noun or a verb, signifying the act or the event of confrontation, "quarrel" primarily serves as a noun, denoting the disagreement itself. As a verb, "to quarrel" means engaging in a verbal disagreement, emphasizing the act of arguing rather than the physicality associated with "fighting."
In literature, Fight and Quarrel bring varied depths to a narrative. A hero might fight a villain, illustrating a tangible and often epic confrontation. Alternatively, characters might quarrel, revealing tensions, personal differences, or evolving dynamics, often serving as a tool to delve deeper into character relationships and motivations.
Comparison Chart
Nature
Physical or metaphorical confrontation
Verbal disagreement
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Intensity
Generally more intense and possibly violent
Typically less intense, more about verbal disagreement
Usage
Can be a noun or a verb
Primarily a noun, but also a verb in the context of arguing
In Relationships
Represents deeper issues or challenges
Often about minor disagreements
In Literature
Denotes tangible confrontations
Highlights tensions and personal differences
Compare with Definitions
Fight
To struggle to overcome, eliminate, or prevent.
He fights his urge to smoke every day.
Quarrel
To engage in an angry argument or disagreement.
They quarreled over the last piece of pie.
Fight
Take part in a violent struggle involving the exchange of physical blows or the use of weapons
Cameron fought back as hard as he could
Protesters fought with police
The men were fighting
Quarrel
To find fault or disagree with something.
He always quarrels with the decisions made by the committee.
Fight
Struggle to overcome, eliminate, or prevent
A churchman who has dedicated his life to fighting racism
The company intends to fight the decision
Quarrel
An interaction in which the parties involved express angry disagreement with one another
I changed the subject to avoid being drawn into a quarrel.
Fight
A violent confrontation or struggle
He'd got into a fight with some bouncers outside a club
Quarrel
A reason for a dispute or argument
We have no quarrel with the findings of the committee.
Fight
To attempt to harm or gain power over an adversary by blows or with weapons.
Quarrel
A bolt for a crossbow.
Fight
(Sports) To engage in a boxing match or other similar contest.
Quarrel
A tool, such as a stonemason's chisel, that has a squared head.
Fight
To engage in a quarrel; argue
They are always fighting about money.
Quarrel
A small diamond-shaped or square pane of glass in a latticed window.
Fight
To strive vigorously and resolutely, as in trying to overcome something; contend
Fought against graft.
Fighting for her rights.
Quarrel
To express angry disagreement; engage in a quarrel
The children quarreled over the last piece of cake.
Fight
To contend with or oppose with violence or in battle.
Quarrel
To find fault or disagree
I quarrel with your conclusions.
Fight
To wage or carry on (a battle).
Quarrel
(countable) A dispute or heated argument (especially one that is verbal).
We got into a silly quarrel about what food to order.
Fight
To contend for, as by combat
“I now resolved that Calais should be fought to the death” (Winston S. Churchill).
Quarrel
(countable) Often preceded by a form of to have: a basis or ground of dispute or objection; a complaint; also, a feeling or situation of ill will and unhappiness caused by this.
A few customers in the shop had some quarrels with us, so we called for the manager.
I have no quarrel with her; it’s her partner whom I dislike.
Fight
(Sports) To take part in a boxing match or other similar contest with (an opponent).
Quarrel
A propensity to quarrel; quarrelsomeness.
Fight
To participate in (a boxing match or other similar contest).
Quarrel
An arrow or bolt for a crossbow or an type]] of crossbow, traditionally with the head square in its cross section.
Fight
To cause (a boxer or other contestant) to fight in a match.
Quarrel
A diamond- or square-shaped piece of glass forming part of a lattice window.
Fight
To contend with or struggle against
Fought his boss over every penny.
Fought temptation.
Quarrel
A square tile; a quarry tile; (uncountable) such tiles collectively.
Fight
To try to prevent the development or success of
Fought the attempt to close the school.
Quarrel
A cutting tool or chisel with a diamond- or square-shaped end.
Fight
To try to extinguish (an uncontrolled fire).
Quarrel
A small square-shaped opening in window tracery.
Fight
To make (one's way) by struggle or striving
Fought my way to the top.
Quarrel
To argue fiercely; to contend; to squabble; to cease to be on friendly terms, to fall out.
Fight
A confrontation between opposing groups in which each attempts to harm or gain power over the other, as with bodily force or weapons.
Quarrel
(intransitive) To find fault; to cavil.
To quarrel with one’s lot
Fight
A physical conflict between two or more individuals.
Quarrel
Followed by at: to disagree with; to take offence.
Fight
A boxing match.
Quarrel
To argue or squabble with (someone).
Fight
A contest in kickboxing, any of the mixed martial arts, or a similar sport.
Quarrel
An arrow for a crossbow; - so named because it commonly had a square head.
To shoot with arrows and quarrel.
Two arblasts, . . . with windlaces and quarrels.
Fight
A quarrel or conflict
Newlyweds having a fight over chores.
Quarrel
Any small square or quadrangular member
Fight
A struggle to achieve an objective
A fight for the attainment of civil rights.
Quarrel
A glazier's diamond.
Fight
The power or inclination to fight; pugnacity
I just didn't have any fight left in me.
Quarrel
A four-sided cutting tool or chisel having a diamond-shaped end.
Fight
(intransitive) To contend in physical conflict, either singly or in war, battle etc.
A wounded animal will fight like a maniac, relentless, savage and murderous.
Quarrel
A breach of concord, amity, or obligation; a falling out; a difference; a disagreement; an antagonism in opinion, feeling, or conduct; esp., an angry dispute, contest, or strife; a brawl; an altercation; as, he had a quarrel with his father about expenses.
I will bring a sword upon you that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant.
On open seas their quarrels they debate.
Fight
(reciprocal) To contend in physical conflict with each other, either singly or in war, battle etc.
The two boxers have been fighting for more than half an hour.
Quarrel
Ground of objection, dislike, difference, or hostility; cause of dispute or contest; occasion of altercation.
Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him.
No man hath any quarrel to me.
He thought he had a good quarrel to attack him.
Fight
(intransitive) To strive for something; to campaign or contend for success.
He fought for the Democrats in the last election.
Quarrel
Earnest desire or longing.
Fight
(transitive) To conduct or engage in (battle, warfare etc.).
The battle was fought just over that hill.
Quarrel
One who quarrels or wrangles; one who is quarrelsome.
Fight
(transitive) To engage in combat with; to oppose physically, to contest with.
My grandfather fought the Nazis in World War II.
Quarrel
To violate concord or agreement; to have a difference; to fall out; to be or become antagonistic.
Our people quarrel with obedience.
But some defect in herDid quarrel with the noblest grace she owed.
Fight
(transitive) To try to overpower; to fiercely counteract.
The government pledged to fight corruption.
Quarrel
To dispute angrily, or violently; to wrangle; to scold; to altercate; to contend; to fight.
Beasts called sociable quarrel in hunger and lust.
Fight
To cause to fight; to manage or manoeuvre in a fight.
To fight cocks; to fight one's ship
Quarrel
To find fault; to cavil; as, to quarrel with one's lot.
I will not quarrel with a slight mistake.
Fight
(intransitive) Of colours or other design elements: to clash; to fail to harmonize.
Quarrel
To quarrel with.
Fight
An occasion of fighting.
One of them got stuck in a chokehold and got stabbed to death during the fight.
Quarrel
To compel by a quarrel; as, to quarrel a man out of his estate or rights.
Fight
(archaic) A battle between opposing armies.
Quarrel
An angry dispute;
They had a quarrel
They had words
Fight
A physical confrontation or combat between two or more people or groups.
Watch your language! Are you looking for a fight?
Quarrel
An arrow that is shot from a crossbow; has a head with four edges
Fight
(sports) A boxing or martial arts match.
I'm going to Nick’s to watch the big fight tomorrow night.
Quarrel
Have a disagreement over something;
We quarreled over the question as to who discovered America
These tewo fellows are always scrapping over something
Fight
A conflict, possibly nonphysical, with opposing ideas or forces; strife.
I'll put up a fight to save this company.
Quarrel
A verbal disagreement or argument.
They had a quarrel about money.
Fight
(uncountable) The will or ability to fight.
That little guy has a bit of fight in him after all.
As soon as he saw the size of his opponent, all the fight went out of him.
Quarrel
A reason for disagreement or dispute.
His main quarrel was with their approach.
Fight
(obsolete) A screen for the combatants in ships; an arming.
Quarrel
A slight variance or difference.
I have no quarrel with your observations.
Fight
To strive or contened for victory, with armies or in single combat; to attempt to defeat, subdue, or destroy an enemy, either by blows or weapons; to contend in arms; - followed by with or against.
You do fight against your country's foes.
To fight with thee no man of arms will deign.
Fight
To act in opposition to anything; to struggle against; to contend; to strive; to make resistance.
Fight
To carry on, or wage, as a conflict, or battle; to win or gain by struggle, as one's way; to sustain by fighting, as a cause.
He had to fight his way through the world.
I have fought a good fight.
Fight
To contend with in battle; to war against; as, they fought the enemy in two pitched battles; the sloop fought the frigate for three hours.
Fight
To cause to fight; to manage or maneuver in a fight; as, to fight cocks; to fight one's ship.
Fight
A battle; an engagement; a contest in arms; a combat; a violent conflict or struggle for victory, between individuals or between armies, ships, or navies, etc.
Who now defies thee thrice to single fight.
Fight
A struggle or contest of any kind.
Fight
Strength or disposition for fighting; pugnacity; as, he has a great deal of fight in him.
Fight
A screen for the combatants in ships.
Up with your fights, and your nettings prepare.
Fight
The act of fighting; any contest or struggle;
A fight broke out at the hockey game
There was fighting in the streets
The unhappy couple got into a terrible scrap
Fight
An intense verbal dispute;
A violent fight over the bill is expected in the Senate
Fight
A boxing match;
The fight was on television last night
Fight
A hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war;
Grant won a decisive victory in the battle of Chickamauga
He lost his romantic ideas about war when he got into a real engagement
Fight
An aggressive willingness to compete;
The team was full of fight
Fight
Be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight;
The tribesmen fought each other
Siblings are always fighting
Fight
Fight against or resist strongly;
The senator said he would oppose the bill
Don't fight it!
Fight
Make a strenuous or labored effort;
She struggled for years to survive without welfare
He fought for breath
Fight
Exert oneself continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to gain an end or engage in a crusade for a certain cause or person; be an advocate for;
The liberal party pushed for reforms
She is crusading for women's rights
The Dean is pushing for his favorite candidate
Fight
A violent confrontation or struggle.
The soldiers were prepared for a tough fight.
Fight
A determined effort to achieve something.
She put up a fight against the disease.
Fight
A boxing or wrestling match.
The championship fight drew a large crowd.
Fight
To engage in combat or competition.
They fought bravely against the invaders.
Common Curiosities
Can a fight be non-violent?
Yes, one can fight for justice, rights, or beliefs without engaging in physical violence.
Is "quarreling" always negative?
Not always; sometimes, quarreling can be a means of communication or expressing differing viewpoints.
What primarily differentiates a fight from a quarrel?
A fight often implies physical or intense confrontation, while a quarrel is typically a verbal disagreement.
Is a fight always physical?
No, a fight can also be metaphorical, indicating a struggle or challenge.
Can a quarrel escalate into a fight?
Yes, if not resolved, a quarrel can escalate into a more intense disagreement or even a physical fight.
Which word, fight or quarrel, suggests a deeper disagreement in a relationship?
A fight typically suggests a deeper or more significant disagreement than a quarrel.
Can a quarrel be constructive?
Yes, when approached with open-mindedness, a quarrel can lead to understanding and growth.
Can nations quarrel?
Yes, nations can quarrel, implying disagreements or tensions on matters like policies or treaties.
In sports, when might the word "fight" be used?
In sports like boxing or wrestling, "fight" denotes a match or competition.
Are there cultural variations in how fights or quarrels are perceived?
Yes, cultural norms and values can influence the perception and acceptance of fights and quarrels.
Can animals quarrel?
While animals can display aggressive or territorial behaviors, using "quarrel" anthropomorphizes them by implying verbal disagreement.
Are there synonyms for "quarrel" that imply a milder disagreement?
Yes, words like "dispute" or "spat" can suggest milder forms of disagreement.
Is a fight always between two parties?
No, a fight can involve multiple parties or even an individual's internal struggle.
What might be a literary use of a quarrel?
In literature, a quarrel can reveal character dynamics, tensions, or plot developments.
How can one avoid escalating a quarrel into a fight?
By maintaining calm, practicing active listening, and seeking compromise.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
