disputant

noun

di-ˈspyü-tᵊnt How to pronounce disputant (audio)
Definition of disputantnext
as in defendant
a person who takes part in a dispute there were only three disputants in the argument, but they made enough noise for a dozen

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 disputant The Jay Treaty asked the disputants merely to start a process leading to the appointment of arbitrators qualified to decide their disputes fairly and finally. — Tom Bell, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2025 The audience and actor are like disputants kept in different rooms, forbidden to see each other fully. — Jesse Green, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025 However, if the harassment or dispute is simply two neighbors being un-neighborly toward each other, the HOA’s best response may be to offer a volunteer board member to meet with the disputants to try to host a discussion between them. — Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025 My disputant’s particular problem wasn’t with Carpenter’s voice but with its anodyne middle-of-the-road context (both musically and culturally). — Wesley Stace, WSJ, 20 Dec. 2018 The debate over medicine today is like that baby, but with disputants who won’t fall for Solomon’s trick. — Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry, National Review, 24 Oct. 2017 One way for other financial centres, such as Dubai and Singapore, to compete is by becoming hubs for arbitration—by agreeing to abide by the decision of a tribunal, disputants can bypass courts entirely. — The Economist, 31 Aug. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disputant
  1. defendant
  2. plaintiff
  3. debater
  4. arguer
  5. fighter
  6. contestant
  7. advocate
Noun
  • In this case, because the families of the victims and the defendant are intertwined, competing interests may interfere with consensus.
    — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Hayes entered Alford pleas in May 2024, a type of guilty plea in which a defendant does not admit guilt.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of defendant
Noun
  • That rule gave plaintiffs a chance to sue again, and Talwani on Thursday night issued a 14-day restraining order against implementation of the measure.
    — Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • So far, none of the 12 state plaintiffs have withdrawn from the lawsuit as California Attorney General Rob Bonta proceeds to trial.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of plaintiff
Noun
  • Research has previously shown that AI models can be extremely persuasive, more so than even the best human salespeople or debaters.
    — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Personal laptops allow debaters to research, organize evidence and prepare for tournaments during free periods.
    — Kavin Bendre, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of debater
Noun
  • Martha’s father, a law professor, had trained her to be a rational, step-by-step arguer.
    — Cassandra Neyenesch, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
Definition of arguer
Noun
  • The Lincoln, its broad flight deck packed with helicopters and warplanes, including the latest F-35 fighter jets, arrived in Laem Chabang early Sept 2.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Sharks attacking fish, Spider-Man jumping off of a building, Ja Morant putting a poor man on a poster, fighter jets, and Chris Gotterup hitting golf balls; also known as the good stuff.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of fighter
Noun
  • Fifty-one contestants — one representative from each of the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia — vied for the crown.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Brandi is a successful podcaster, co-hosting Your Favorite Things with Wells Adams (former Bachelorette contestant and husband of actress Sarah Hyland).
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of contestant
Noun
  • So are 44 of 50 state attorneys general, dozens of Indian tribes, consumer advocates, addiction experts, and an increasingly bipartisan contingent on Capitol Hill.
    — Marshall Cohen, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Satish Thiagarjan, founder and CEO of Brysa, advocates using a scoring system rather than relying on instinct.
    — Alison Coleman, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of advocate

Browse Nearby Words

disputable
disputant
disputants
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation
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

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
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 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?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All