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
Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 5 Mar. 2025
The network brought a federal lawsuit and a judge quickly sided with CNN in the dispute on due process grounds, leading the White House to back down from the legal fight.
—Brian Stelter, CNN, 21 Feb. 2025
Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2025
Zelenskyy disputed the figure and said American aid was given as grants, not loans.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dispute
Noun
After two years of litigation and arbitration, Adidas and Ye reached an out-of-court resolution of their contractual dispute stemming from Adidas terminating the relationship.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 5 Mar. 2025
The network brought a federal lawsuit and a judge quickly sided with CNN in the dispute on due process grounds, leading the White House to back down from the legal fight.
—Brian Stelter, CNN, 21 Feb. 2025
Verb
Ukraine’s president, Zelenskyy, disputed the amount of wartime aid the U.S. has given Ukraine, putting the figure at around $100 billion.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2025
Zelenskyy disputed the figure and said American aid was given as grants, not loans.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dispute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispute
Noun
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However, the controversy surrounding the actress’ old tweets threw her Oscars attendance into question.—
Abby Monteil,
Them,
25 Feb. 2025
-
His resignation also comes amid controversy over Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency reportedly seeking access to taxpayer data.—
Hannah Parry,
Newsweek,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Sridhar Ramaswamy has a war cabinet of workers and frequently gets into quarrels with staffers over AI ambition.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
24 Feb. 2025
-
He’s been the attorney general for the state the last eight years, regularly an ally of litigation-ready Gov. Roy Cooper in quarrels with the Legislature.—
Alan Wooten | The Center Square,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
12 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Disillusioned with subjective, surface-level modes of art-making, Gaines began to question his purpose.—
Meka Boyle,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2025
-
Offering those options has not been easy in the traditional era of distribution deals, but the rates of cord-cutting have made both programmers and operators more willing to question the usual assumptions.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Without politics to bicker over or political visions to debate, the candidates mostly pitched themselves and their personal connections to the community.—
Jesse Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2025
-
Meeting in Munich This combination of carping about America, bickering with each other, and grandstanding for the cameras has typified European responses to the Russian invasion of Feb. 24, 2022, and the three years of war that followed.—
Dominic Green,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Think pop-up shops, spice blending, and casually debating the best way to season a brisket.—
Lanee Lee,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
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The science on transgender procedures, including hormone replacement and surgery, is hotly debated.—
Brady Knox,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
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
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And yet there is one aspect of the book which was notable: a disputation of the Richard Wrangham's work in Demonic Males.—
Razib Khan,
Discover Magazine,
22 Apr. 2013
Noun
-
While some Iranian reformists have traditionally advocated for talks with the U.S., the Oval Office altercation has led to a reassessment.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
3 Mar. 2025
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Not that this is necessarily the reason but an AI bot making Oscar predictions is forecasting a Will Smith/Chris Rock-style altercation between Brody and Chalamet.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The Homer Township Reset slate, a group of Republicans challenging the incumbent township administration, was leading by a large margin Tuesday night in the Homer Township Republican primary after all precincts reported, according to unofficial results.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Feb. 2025
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The big picture: Power outages are just one risk that's rising with the changing climate and challenging traditional insurance companies.—
Katie Fehrenbacher,
Axios,
25 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dispute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispute. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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