contestation

noun

ˌkän-ˌte-ˈstā-shən How to pronounce contestation (audio)
Definition of contestationnext
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

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 contestation In particular, Iran’s cinematic identity over the past century has been characterized by the contestation of hegemonic forces, both secular and fundamentalist. — Nick Kouhi, Vogue, 21 Jan. 2026 What supplies all these events with a sense of approaching a precipice is the open contestation between pro- and anti-democratic forces, happening both here and abroad, in view of each other. — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2026 That makes some of these contestations existential, particularly for smaller combatants. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 12 Jan. 2026 Indeed, the existence of avenues for contestation is in the very nature of competitive authoritarianism. — Steven Levitsky, Foreign Affairs, 11 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for contestation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contestation
  1. dispute
  2. controversy
  3. disputation
  4. debate
  5. disagreement
Noun
  • Around the same time, Congress established the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, an administrative body that adjudicates patent disputes.
    — Andrei Iancu, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • There was also a physical dispute between Parillo and Amy Helm after her removal, during which police were called to LHS in Woodstock.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of dispute
Noun
  • The new concealer was originally launched as the Wide Awake Brightening Concealer alongside the Wide Awake Brightening Neutralizer, but ran into controversy just days after launch.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 16 Oct. 2026
  • CoreWeave’s vast debt pile has been the subject of controversy in the past.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of controversy
Noun
  • This contestation takes place through philosophical debates, religious disputations, and public discussions, whether direct or indirect, open or clandestine.
    — Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
  • This did not, however, mark the end of disputation concerning the Northwest Angle.
    — Scott Spires, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of disputation
Noun
  • Giving Americans $1,000 or $5,000 invested in a technology index is a straightforward idea; The source and use of the funds will likely be of great debate.
    — Sarah Cannon, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Congress weighs competing proposals Anthropic’s draft enters a crowded legislative debate over how the United States should regulate frontier AI.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of debate
Noun
  • Dispute turns personal The confrontation grew out of a political disagreement over a proposal to extend term limits for Miami Gardens council members.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
  • There’s not really a lot of disagreement about values and principles.
    — John E. McDonough, STAT, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of disagreement

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contestation
contestations
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Cite this Entry

“Contestation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contestation. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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