as in dispute
variance of opinion on a matter
the statement is certainly open to contestation among reasonable people
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contestation
The main point of contestation will, naturally, be who gets to be an American and what rights U.S. citizenship confers.
—
Robert A. Pape, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2024
In large part, however, political contestation in recent decades has been the matter of parties mobilizing against one another—chiefly, the Awami League and its main rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
—Ali Riaz, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2024
Turkey’s neighborhood includes regions of contestation between the United States on one side and China, Iran, or Russia on the other.
—Asli Aydintasbas, Foreign Affairs, 6 June 2024
Although Putin would likely win a fair election in 2024, an unmanaged election would foster genuine political contestation and criticism of the president, which the Kremlin had long been keeping off-limits.
—Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 13 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for contestation 
Robert A. Pape, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2024
In large part, however, political contestation in recent decades has been the matter of parties mobilizing against one another—chiefly, the Awami League and its main rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
—Ali Riaz, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2024
Turkey’s neighborhood includes regions of contestation between the United States on one side and China, Iran, or Russia on the other.
—Asli Aydintasbas, Foreign Affairs, 6 June 2024
Although Putin would likely win a fair election in 2024, an unmanaged election would foster genuine political contestation and criticism of the president, which the Kremlin had long been keeping off-limits.
—Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 13 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for contestation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contestation
Noun
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By the founding of Israel in 1948, only about 20% of the total area of what is known as historic Palestine had been mapped – a fact that has fueled land disputes to this day.—
Christine Leuenberger,
The Conversation,
7 Feb. 2025
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The push follows an ongoing contract dispute between Optimum's parent company, Altice USA, and MSG Networks, which has resulted in the loss of access to MSG sports programming for thousands of customers.—
Kristan Hawkins,
Newsweek,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Asked about the streaming event about those controversies, Bloys demurred.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2025
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There was controversy over the fact that hometown hero Lil Wayne didn’t get the gig in New Orleans.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
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Late & Live will once again be the only place to watch the celebrity evictees first live interview alongside an array of unmissable exclusive features including access to the camera runs, special guest commentary and fiery debate.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2025
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Meanwhile, the same debates accompanying discussions of slavery reparations in greater society permeate the order as well: Some feel a moral urgency while others criticize the effort as unfairly burdening the entities of today or suggesting the order’s ongoing work with the poor should suffice.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA TODAY,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The Trump administration will likely appeal the judicial prohibitions and, given the extent of disagreement between the White House and many Democratic-leaning states, the issue will likely be heard by the Supreme Court.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
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But the process has faced delays amid intraparty disagreement on how to proceed.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near contestation
Cite this Entry
“Contestation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contestation. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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