Quarrelous means: An adjective meaning prone to arguing - a regional or older variant of 'quarrelsome' used mainly in American English or older texts. Applied to a person with a combative, contentious disposition. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. As a place or proper-name reference it is purely descriptive. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
quarrelous
An adjective meaning prone to arguing — a regional or older variant of 'quarrelsome' used mainly in American English or older texts.
Definitions
#1·Apr 28, 2026
An adjective meaning prone to arguing — a regional or older variant of 'quarrelsome' used mainly in American English or older texts. Applied to a person with a combative, contentious disposition who finds conflict wherever they go. The word is perfectly functional but has largely been displaced by 'quarrelsome' in standard usage.
He was a quarrelous old man who couldn't sit through a family dinner without starting an argument.
Origin: From 'quarrel' + the adjectival suffix '-ous,' an older formation predating the now-standard 'quarrelsome.' Editorial expansion authored on Slangora.
For parents
Quarrelous means: An adjective meaning prone to arguing - a regional or older variant of 'quarrelsome' used mainly in American English or older texts. Applied to a person with a combative, contentious disposition. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. As a place or proper-name reference it is purely descriptive. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
quarrelous means: An adjective meaning prone to arguing - a regional or older variant of 'quarrelsome' used mainly in American English or older texts. Applied to a person with a combative,. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
Cluster: normal
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#2·Apr 27, 2026
(now, _, US) Quarrelsome; argumentative.
Cluster: general
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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🗺️About Regional & Other slang
Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.
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Semantically related
- rantankerous70%
(US, dialect, dated) argumentative; quarrelsome; cantankerous.
- argie bargie64%
British informal expression for noisy, contentious arguing or a heated back-and-forth dispute. The reduplicative rhyming structure of argie-bargie is common in British colloquial formations and adds a slightly dismissive or comic tone to the quarrel being described. Implies bickering and squabbling more than serious conflict. Used affectionately or with mild exasperation to describe the kind of argument that generates more heat than resolution.
- argie bargie63%
A British and Australian informal term for a noisy, prolonged argument or squabble — the kind that goes back and forth without either side gaining ground. Typically used to describe petty disputes rather than serious confrontations, and often carries a slightly dismissive tone, implying the argument is more heat than light. Common in tabloid headlines and casual speech alike. Variants include 'argy-bargy', which is the more widely seen spelling in British English.
- argy-bargy63%
(chiefly, UK) A noisy disagreement, often with some fighting.