argument

noun

ˈär-gyə-mənt How to pronounce argument (audio)
Definition of argumentnext
1
as in dispute
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions the couple's arguments were often loud enough to be heard all over the neighborhood

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2
as in explanation
a statement given to explain a belief or act gave a solid argument for the redeeming value of the shockingly violent movie

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3
as in discussion
an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue the president of the Senate has allotted a week for the argument of the treaty

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4
as in contention
an idea or opinion that is put forth in a discussion or debate it's my argument that we have too many problems here on earth to concern ourselves with manned trips to Mars

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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 argument Jodie Michelle Abrams, who was accused of following another woman in her car after an argument, was charged with bringing a gun onto school property and communicating threats, Mint Hill police said. — Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026 Jurors deliberated for three and a half hours Thursday after the prosecution and defense made their closing arguments in Plymouth Superior Court. — Kristina Rex, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026 After hours of argument that at times grew tense, a hearing Thursday ended without a ruling from Magistrate Judge Lauren Louis, and the Tates were returned to jail. — Jonny Hallam, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 Too often, the forceful arguments of Rankine and her peers—and the electric anger of the George Floyd protests—were used by the opportunistic and aggrieved to justify abrupt changes to unprepared institutions. — Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for argument
Recent Examples of Synonyms for argument
  1. dispute
  2. explanation
  3. discussion
  4. contention
  5. quarrel
  6. reason
  7. debate
  8. assertion
Noun
  • The planned center for arbitrating investment and commercial disputes, for example, will sit within the Syrian Investment Authority, which is itself attached to the presidency.
    — Jesse Marks, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Adair died in jail following a dispute with deputies, including Fatherley, who knelt on his back.
    — Sofi Zeman August 31, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of dispute
Noun
  • His best explanations for this are pressure from shareholders to prioritize immediate returns over long-term investments, and years of obsession with digital that came at the expense of physical retail.
    — Hilary Milnes, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The recreation is populated with people, animals, sound effects, and audio explanations.
    — Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of explanation
Noun
  • Walking in on them during an intimate discussion only seems to confirm it.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Sullivan spoke with attorneys at sidebar about the request, but the discussion was inaudible to observers in the courtroom at Plymouth Superior Court.
    — Melina Khan, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of discussion
Noun
  • Palal also rejected the defense’s contention that Davis fabricated his accounts to make money.
    — Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The parents, who are Amish, were not aware that their baby’s death was in the national news and a source of contention.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of contention
Noun
  • Look, says everyone, at the movement of the heavens, look at the public, look at that man’s quarrel, at this man’s pulse, at another man’s will; in short, always look high or low, or to one side, or in front, or behind you.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The Department of Defense’s quarrel with Anthropic began earlier this year after the company refused to remove internal safety guardrails that would prevent the military from using its Claude AI model in autonomous weapons and mass surveillance.
    — Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of quarrel
Noun
  • After wrapping up its longest monthly losing streak on Wall Street in more than a decade, Google has started September by giving investors several reasons for optimism.
    — MacKenzie Sigalos,Drew Troast, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Another company might have seen the same 20% decline for entirely different reasons.
    — James Fratzke, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of reason
Noun
  • While the referendum debate has almost entirely centered on the economy – for example, the potential impact of joining the Eurozone and changing fishing policy – the vote is not happening in a vacuum.
    — Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Their debates can get heated, but Gray, who describes himself as a conflict-averse person in a high-conflict business, says the criticism should never be personal.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of debate
Noun
  • Despite Bonta’s assertion Wednesday that the states made no compromises, the agreement drops a key demand that children be barred from using Facebook and Instagram at school.
    — Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • They were all also alleged to have been prostitutes, though recent scholarship has challenged that assertion.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of assertion

Browse Nearby Words

arguing
argument
argumentation
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Cite this Entry

“Argument.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/argument. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on argument

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about argument

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