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Showing results for bone to pick.
Definitions

bone to pick

NOUN
argument
Synonyms
STRONGEST
altercation bickering brawl clash controversy debate disagreement dispute exchange feud quarrel squabble
STRONG
beef blowup bone brush crusher dustup face-off finisher flap fuss gin go hassle knockdown out rhubarb romp row ruckus ruction rumpus run-in scene scrap set-to shindy spat static stew tiff words wrangle
WEAK
bone of contention brannigan difference of opinion donnybrook falling-out knock-down-drag-out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
agreement harmony peace
STRONG
calm
NOUN
contention
Synonyms
STRONGEST
argument conflict controversy dispute rivalry struggle
STRONG
altercation battle beef belligerency combat contest difference discord dissension dissent dissidence disunity enmity fight flak hassle hostility quarrel run-in scene scrap set-to squabble static strife variance war wrangle wrangling
WEAK
bone of contention disaccord feuding
Antonyms
STRONGEST
accord agreement harmony peace
STRONG
approval authorization compliment concurrence friendship kindness praise ratification truce
WEAK
affection consideration friendliness good will sympathy
NOUN
difference
Synonyms
STRONGEST
argument clash conflict controversy debate disagreement discord dispute quarrel
STRONG
beef blowup brawl brush brush-off contention contrariety contretemps discordance dissension dissent dissidence disunity dustup estrangement hassle row run-in scrap set-to spat strife tiff variance words wrangle
WEAK
brannigan disaccord
Antonyms
STRONGEST
accord agreement harmony peace
STRONG
approval authorization concurrence ratification
WEAK
alikeness assent consent
NOUN
dissent
Synonyms
STRONGEST
discord dissension disunity objection opposition protest resistance schism strife
STRONG
bone clinker conflict contention denial difference disaccord dissidence flak hassle heresy heterodoxy nonconformism nonconformity refusal spat split unorthodoxy variance
WEAK
bone of contention far cry misbelief nonagreement nonconcurrence nope poles apart sour note
Antonyms
STRONGEST
acceptance agreement approval concurrence harmony peace
STRONG
accord conformity orthodoxy
WEAK
authorization endorsement ratification sanction
NOUN
friction
Synonyms
STRONGEST
animosity antagonism bad blood bickering conflict discontent discord disharmony dispute dissension hassle hatred hostility quarrel resentment resistance rivalry strife trouble wrangling
STRONG
counteraction faction flak impedance incompatibility interference opposition row ruckus rumpus set-to
WEAK
bad feeling factionalism sour note
Antonyms
STRONGEST
accord agreement concord happiness harmony liking love peace pleasure
NOUN
grudge
Synonyms
STRONGEST
animosity animus antipathy bad blood bitterness enmity grievance hard feelings hate hatred ill will injustice malice rancor resentment
STRONG
aversion dislike hate injury malevolence maliciousness malignancy peeve pique spite spitefulness spleen venom
WEAK
pet peeve
Antonyms
STRONGEST
friendliness friendship good will happiness kindness liking love loving respect sympathy
WEAK
favor forgiveness
NOUN
polemic
Synonyms
STRONGEST
spat
STRONG
altercation beef bicker bickering blowup bone brawl brush clash contention controversy crusher debate difficulty disagreement dispute dustup exchange face-off feud fight finisher flap fuss gin go hassle knockdown out quarrel rhubarb romp row ruckus ruction rumpus run-in scene scrap set-to shindy squabble static stew tiff word words wrangle
WEAK
bone of contention brannigan difference of opinion donnybrook falling-out knock-down-drag-out
Antonyms
STRONG
agreement calm ease friendship harmony peace

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For Phillips though, there is a little bone to pick.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026

Last year, Ripple Chief Executive Brad Garlinghouse had a bone to pick with banks, saying they had shut him and his industry out.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 14, 2025

On the chance that he does, I have a bone to pick with him – less cosmic, but something that speaks volumes about his probity and fitness for office.

From Salon • Apr. 6, 2025

Our only bone to pick here is that Nov. 26 is being described as “after the election.”

From Slate • Sep. 7, 2024

‘Glad indeed I am to see you safe back. But I’ve a bone to pick with you, in a manner o’ speaking, if I may make so bold.

From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien