ARGUE Synonyms: 183 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'argue' contrast with its synonyms?

The words debate and discuss are common synonyms of argue . While all three words mean "to discourse about in order to reach conclusions or to convince," argue implies the offering of reasons or evidence in support of convictions already held. // argued that the project would be too costly

Q: When is it sensible to use 'debate' instead of 'argue'?

While in some cases nearly identical to argue , debate suggests formal or public argument between opposing parties; it may also apply to deliberation with oneself. // debated the merits of the amendment // I'm debating whether I should go

Q: When might 'discuss' be a better fit than 'argue'?

The synonyms discuss and argue are sometimes interchangeable, but discuss implies a sifting of possibilities especially by presenting considerations pro and con. // discussed the need for a new highway

argue

verb

ˈär-(ˌ)gyü

Definition of argue

as in to contend

to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration argued that a bake sale would make a lot less money than a car wash

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to bicker

to express different opinions about something often angrily that couple argues so incessantly it's a miracle they're still together

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to convince

to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest requests argued my boss into letting me telecommute for four days a week

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to discuss

to talk about (an issue) usually from various points of view and for the purpose of arriving at a decision or opinion candidates arguing gun control in a nationally televised debate

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to confirm

to give evidence or testimony to the truth or factualness of the security video argues that it was a taller man who entered the building

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb argue contrast with its synonyms?

The words debate and discuss are common synonyms of argue. While all three words mean "to discourse about in order to reach conclusions or to convince," argue implies the offering of reasons or evidence in support of convictions already held.

argued that the project would be too costly

When is it sensible to use debate instead of argue?

While in some cases nearly identical to argue, debate suggests formal or public argument between opposing parties; it may also apply to deliberation with oneself.

debated the merits of the amendment

I'm debating whether I should go

When might discuss be a better fit than argue?

The synonyms discuss and argue are sometimes interchangeable, but discuss implies a sifting of possibilities especially by presenting considerations pro and con.

discussed the need for a new highway

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 argue After the setback, Nevada retained new counsel from the white-shoe firm Mayer Brown, including lawyers who have argued dozens of cases at the Supreme Court. — Marshall Cohen, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026 The group also argued the city did not coordinate relocation efforts for displaced residents, some of whom were locked out of their units and unable to gather their belongings. — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 2026 Others argue restrictions could rob the world of a utopian future. — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026 That kind of collective learning is especially important in the era of AI as distinctly human skills like attention span, curiosity, judgment, empathy and collaboration become more valuable, Kavanagh and Danielson argued. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for argue

Recent Examples of Synonyms for argue

Verb

The disclosure contends that, because of the new procedures, a single scanning error in a batch of tens of thousands of ballot envelopes could prevent any from reaching voters.

— Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Defense attorneys contend that because only a single bullet was fired — and struck its target — the crowd was not at risk.

— Bill Chappell, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of contend

Verb

Kimmel and Damon then bicker over who has a rightful paternal claim to the child, culminating in a pitch-perfect spoof of Maury featuring Short as Povich.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Aug. 2026
There’s striker Josie Gordon, bickering twin sisters Siobhan and Niamh, glove-shunning goalie Katie ‘Boots’ Quinn and couple Maddie and Margy.

— Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of bicker

Verb

For good measure, Pabst’s social media updates took a tongue-in-cheek approach that may have actually convinced people the posts were more playful than actual pleas for help.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Greyson said nearly five decades of studying near-death experiences has convinced him there is probably something after death.

— Michael Collins, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of convince

Verb

Along with the move back to Britain, Meghan’s acting return was a subject the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had reportedly been discussing for some time, according to People.

— Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 31 Aug. 2026
Yet many Jews then and now objected to the idea that bringing up Israel’s war in Lebanon was appropriate context when discussing a synagogue attack.

— Andrew Lapin, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of discuss

Verb

The department later confirmed that the area was secure and that no further threat to the public remained.

— Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
Also Tuesday, just after court was dismissed, Dawn Light, 56, of Sutton, Massachusetts, was arrested outside the courthouse in Plymouth, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts State Police confirmed.

— Blayne Alexander, NBC news, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of confirm

Verb

An organization that can't see what its own people know can't reason from it or build on it, and ends up making the same mistakes in three places at once.

— Panos Siozos, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
China is betting big on humanoid robots, which the nation’s technology leaders see as key agents in the race to artificial general intelligence (AGI) – an AI system with human-level ability to reason and act.

— Ann Scott Tyson, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of reason

Verb

Without a clear message from Warsh, investors began to doubt the Fed’s inflation-fighting resolve.

— Brian Cheung, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026
Federal safety investigators urged automakers to give emergency responders better guides on how to fight lithium-ion battery fires.

— Todd C. Frankel, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of fight

Verb

But persuading other American companies to follow Chevron into Venezuela remains one of Washington’s biggest challenges.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026
Proponents may face an uphill battle persuading Newsom to sign the bill, which creates a unique revenue stream to pay for the program.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of persuade

Browse Nearby Words

arguable

argue

argued

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Style

“Argue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/argue. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of argue

verb

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