debate vs squabble

debate and squabble both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
debate	Yes	No	Yes	No
squabble	Yes	No	Yes	No

As verbs, squabble is a hyponym of debate; that is, squabble is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than debate:

Other hyponyms of debate include stickle, spar, bicker, brabble, niggle, pettifog, quibble, altercate, argufy, dispute, quarrel, scrap, oppose.

debate (noun)	squabble (noun)
the formal presentation of a stated proposition and the opposition to it (usually followed by a vote)	a quarrel about petty points
a discussion in which reasons are advanced for and against some proposition or proposal

debate (verb)	squabble (verb)
argue with one another	argue over petty things
discuss the pros and cons of an issue
have an argument about something
think about carefully; weigh