dispute 1 of 2

noun

di-ˈspyüt How to pronounce dispute (audio)
Definition of disputenext
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

dispute

2 of 2

verb

di-ˈspyüt How to pronounce dispute (audio)
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dispute
Noun
The incident comes roughly three months after workplace dispute led to a shooting at a Texas USPS distribution facility that left one worker dead. — David Matthews, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2025 The dispute about the FEMA funds comes as the Trump administration is considering reshaping or abolishing FEMA. — Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 5 Mar. 2025
Verb
Because every country in the world has a right to defend themselves and no-one can dispute that. — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025 Still, his refusal as a high-profile Democrat to dispute or even disagree with right-wing politicians’ misinformation about the trans community sets a dangerous precedent at a time when trans people are being targeted at the federal level. — Abby Monteil, Them, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dispute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispute
  1. controversy
  2. quarrel
  3. question
  4. bicker
  5. debate
  6. disputation
  7. altercation
  8. challenge
Noun
  • The movie, which premieres March 21, has had its fair share of controversies throughout the production process — from Disney's choice to cast Zegler as Snow White to the studio being criticized for perpetuating stereotypes about dwarfs to rumors that Zegler and Gal Gadot don't get along.
    — Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Early reviews have been positive, but can the positive buzz help audiences digest the poison apple that is Disney's Snow White controversy?
    — Randall Colburn, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of controversy
Noun
  • As the quarrel over seating escalated, the attacker, who was wearing a black face mask, slashed the victim on his left hand with an unknown weapon.
    — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2025
  • The quarrel swiftly escalated when Perez allegedly struck her twice on the left side of her temple and pulled her hair.
    — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2025
Definition of quarrel
Verb
  • Police have questioned Konanki’s travel companions and Riibe.
    — David Matthews, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2025
  • More alarming, European leaders are openly questioning their reliance on an America devoted more to its own economic advantage than to a credible commitment to collective security.
    — Anthony Lake, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of question
Verb
  • The 39-year-old victim and her boyfriend, identified by sources as 34-year-old Daquan Spence, bickered over smokes in their apartment on 155th St. near Baisley Blvd.
    — Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 6 Mar. 2025
  • 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
Definition of bicker
Verb
  • Private Sector Responsibility: A Strategic Imperative As policymakers debate sweeping changes, the private sector must recognize the direct impact on human capital management and long-term business viability.
    — Solange Charas, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Further, in much the same way Newsom debated Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and spoke to Fox Host Sean Hannity, the Governor is showcasing his willingness to debate Republicans and defend his positions that few, if any, Democrats are.
    — Douglas Schoen, Orange County Register, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of debate
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
  • 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
Definition of disputation
Noun
  • The 18-year-old’s boyfriend was seen in the footage attempting to stop the altercation.
    — Angel Saunders, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The sole witness to the altercation was the car’s driver, who testified at the trial through an Urdu language translator.
    — Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of altercation
Verb
  • On Wednesday Judge Jesse Furman ruled that the case should be heard in New Jersey, where Khalil's petition challenging the government was filed.
    — Jennifer Earl, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2025
  • If necessary, they are told to challenge those orders through their chain of command, or through attorneys associated with their units, or by contacting their branch’s inspector general.
    — Samuel C. Mahaney, The Conversation, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of challenge

Browse Nearby Words

dispute
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dispute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispute. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on dispute

Nglish: Translation of dispute for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
dog-in-disguise
Rhyme Disguise Quiz Pair up words that look different but sound alike.
See All