on the outs

ADJECTIVE

belligerent

Synonyms

STRONGEST

aggressive antagonistic bellicose combative contentious hostile ornery quarrelsome

STRONG

fighting flip mean militant

WEAK

ardent at loggerheads battling cantankerous fierce have a bone to pick have chip on shoulder have it in for hot hot-tempered pugnacious scrappy truculent warlike

Antonyms

STRONGEST

agreeable calm friendly kind peaceful

STRONG

peaceloving

WEAK

cooperative helping nice

ADJECTIVE

scrappy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

aggressive combative fierce ornery

WEAK

antagonistic ardent at loggerheads battling bellicose cantankerous contentious fighting flip have a bone to pick have chip on shoulder have it in for hostile hot hot-tempered mean militant pugnacious quarrelsome truculent warlike

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm peaceful

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.

The global fashion industry's use of fur has been on the outs for decades.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

This may put him on the outs with his colleagues in the academy, but it has made for a riveting and richly illuminating book.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

Most of Pillemer's respondents reported feeling "upset" over that state of affairs, and honorary American Harry, who's also on the outs with his brother William, seems to be among them.

From Salon • May 10, 2025

The New York Times declared that physical wallets are on the outs.

From Slate • Mar. 9, 2024

The backward address turned out after several mistakes to be the undersecretary to Étienne Tshisekedi, the one government minister who might help us, though his own position with Mobutu is now on the outs.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

on the outs

Example Sentences

Related Words