squabbling

This term carries a strong connotation of immaturity and triviality. It describes arguments that are not only noisy but fundamentally pointless, often suggesting a lack of emotional maturity or a failure to focus on significant issues. It is more critical than "arguing" and more chaotic than "disputing."

As a noun, the word functions as a gerund describing the activity of petty conflict. While it can be used in a countable sense to describe specific instances of conflict, it is most frequently used as an uncountable mass noun to describe a general state of discord or a recurring habit of bickering.