1
as in controversy
variance of opinion on a matter
a dispute over the proper pronunciation of "nuclear"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in quarrel
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
after much dispute, the school committee decided that all backpacks would have to be stored in lockers during class hours
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to question
to demand proof of the truth or rightness of
a whole slew of relatives eager to dispute his claim to being the sole heir
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to bicker
to express different opinions about something often angrily
hometown fans disputing with visiting fans over which had the better team
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to debate
to talk about (an issue) usually from various points of view and for the purpose of arriving at a decision or opinion
in an extended session the city council disputed the need for a new high school
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dispute
Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
Qatar has established itself as a pivotal mediator in conflicts between Western powers and their adversaries, facilitating negotiations with groups such as the Taliban and Hamas in complex disputes.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
Ty Roush, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
However, his attorney, Christopher Frost, issued a statement via a spokesperson, portraying his client as the unwitting mark of both Mauriss and Robinson—a characterization both of those men would strongly dispute.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dispute
Noun
Riley Keough replaced previously attached Kristen Stewart in the project, which follows an American delegation traveling to Russia during the Ukrainian war to try finding a solution to an economic dispute.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
Qatar has established itself as a pivotal mediator in conflicts between Western powers and their adversaries, facilitating negotiations with groups such as the Taliban and Hamas in complex disputes.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
This stance was opposed by some Indian politicians, who accused the Adani Group of relying on Indian nationalism to dispute the allegations.
—Ty Roush, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
However, his attorney, Christopher Frost, issued a statement via a spokesperson, portraying his client as the unwitting mark of both Mauriss and Robinson—a characterization both of those men would strongly dispute.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dispute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispute
Noun
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Purdy has his share of critics, and such critics may claim that continued fine play from Jones could set up a bit of a quarterback controversy in San Francisco.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
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Skip to content One summer in Brooklyn, a controversy broke out in my dog-park group chat.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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However, lovers’ quarrels or difficulty dealing with children (hissy fits or meltdowns) might occur.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
16 Sep. 2025
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The outcome of that long-simmering family quarrel is never really in much doubt, but there are still a few neat surprises involving a couple of rare bottles of whiskey and the fate of two family businesses.—
Stephen Farber,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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However, local authorities later said the individual had been questioned and released.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
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Republican and Democratic lawmakers questioned the tactics after the earlier strike.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Jennifer Aniston’s Alex Levy, Reese Witherspoon’s Bradley Jackson, and the other members of The Morning Show’s newsroom and its network are once again bickering and backstabbing.—
Emma Alpern,
Vulture,
11 Sep. 2025
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Coaches are also bickering about money, a topic that would have felt out of place 10 years ago.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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While the family debates on what is the most culturally appropriate mourning ritual, Russia begins its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, turning their lives upside down.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
20 Sep. 2025
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Every few months, after Kirk would return from his travels, the two would meet for a coffee, spending anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours debating.—
Shawn Raymundo,
AZCentral.com,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
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According to him, advances in machine learning have yanked questions once trapped inside theological/philosophical disputations into corporate board packs.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Aug. 2025
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Jake is a single father who has brought Kristen up in the severe Calvinist tradition, marked by Bible disputations of Talmudic intricacy and by a radical detachment from secular and popular culture.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2023
Noun
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Student accused of mocking Charlie Kirk death Camryn Giselle Booker, a student at Texas Tech University, was arrested on charges of assault after an altercation with students mourning the death of Charlie Kirk.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
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Campus police arrested a student at Texas Tech University in connection to an altercation with students who were mourning the death of Charlie Kirk, officials confirmed.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Advertisement By the time of the civil rights movement, broader social and cultural changes had strengthened individuals’ sense of personal liberty, and activism challenged policy brutality and discretionary overreach.—
Time,
Time,
16 Sep. 2025
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Encouraging private employers to fire people for expressing certain viewpoints risks encouraging viewpoint discrimination, chilling free speech, and may improperly challenge state laws that protect speech and off-duty conduct.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dispute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispute. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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