DISPUTE Synonyms: 159 Similar and Opposite Words

dispute 1 of 2

noun

di-ˈspyüt

Definition of dispute

as in controversy

variance of opinion on a matter a dispute over the proper pronunciation of "nuclear"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to bicker

to express different opinions about something often angrily hometown fans disputing with visiting fans over which had the better team

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

One subset of magnet schools requires a selective admissions process, and these are at the center of the current dispute. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026 Leikauf dismissed D’Agostini’s criticism in an interview with the Placerville Mountain Democrat and said the dispute was not the reason for his retirement. — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Verb

The two also disputed whether Amanchukwu’s allotted speaking time had expired. — Charlotte Observer, 20 Oct. 2026 Sky owner Michael Alter disputed that account, saying security removed Freedom because of his conduct, rather than his speech. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dispute

Recent Examples of Synonyms for 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

When a quarrel over an inheritance revives old hostilities, their relationship comes under pressure from greed and treachery in a conflict not of their making.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
Aly’s quarrel begins with a name; Luna’s arrives at the rank implied by father.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of quarrel

Verb

There is little public clarity around the individual voters whose registration is being contested or how the administration began to question their eligibility.

— Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
But Laura Zimmermann, Common Sense Media’s director of youth AI research, questioned the value of OpenAI’s statistics.

— Marc Levy, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of question

Verb

The two of them together, just 17 months apart, shared playlists, bickered over where to stop during Apple CarPlay calls, pulled up beside me and faded away with silly faces, encapsulating 20 years of my life in my rearview mirror.

— Robert Duffer, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Like law enforcement agents everywhere, they’re disposed to bickering about jurisdiction or pumping each other for off-limits information.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of bicker

Verb

But on Monday, Broadcom CEO Hock Tan likened many of the investors drawn to the AI boom to gamblers and questioned the economics of AI labs as Wall Street debates whether the AI bubble will burst.

— Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
The candidates for county judge debated the county’s most pressing issues, including budget management, flood control and jail diversion.

— Katie Bartlett, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of debate

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

Lazio faced Juventus, whose coach Luciano Spalletti is serving a one-match suspension following his altercation with Cagliari coach Fabio Pisacane.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
Over 20 shots were fired by multiple people during an early-Saturday altercation in downtown Boise, the Boise Police Department reported Saturday.

— Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of altercation

Verb

Peltola, who represented Alaska's at-large district from 2022 to 2025, is challenging Sullivan, a two-term incumbent.

— Matthew Choi The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Uncertainty and change have always been challenging to handle, for some people more than others, said Michel Dugas, a psychology professor at the University of Québec in Outaouais.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026