DISPUTED Synonyms: 158 Similar and Opposite Words

disputed 1 of 2

adjective

as in controversial

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disputed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of dispute

as in questioned

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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as in bickered

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 debated

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

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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 disputed

Adjective

Seven more calls were successfully challenged before the final out, with only two of the eight disputed pitches initially ruled strikes. — Chantz Martin Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026 The enlistment card said Weber was from Alsace-Lorraine, a disputed area between France and Germany, which may explain the two spellings of his surname. — Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 14 Aug. 2026 Ask whether the methodology is published in enough detail to reproduce, and who arbitrates a disputed grade. — Janakiram Msv, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026 The investigation began nearly two months after Sessions supplemented his disputed testimony and was initially based on a letter from two Democratic senators. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 10 Aug. 2026 The British military maritime operations center said a tanker was attacked Tuesday in the disputed area. — Jane Arraf, NPR, 22 July 2026 For years, Washington refused to recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president after his disputed 2018 reelection and instead recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the country’s interim president. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026 Salisbury blamed delays in resolving cases in part on a 2021 law that mandates full trial boards in disputed misconduct complaints involving police officers, even for minor disciplinary infractions. — Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 1 July 2026 The Louisville Counter-Claim Here’s where the story gets genuinely interesting for anyone who loves a disputed first. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2026

Verb

But the person familiar with the investigation disputed the prosecutor’s characterization, saying the civil rights probe is continuing and there has been no final decision on whether to bring additional charges. — Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Its exact definition is disputed, with views among AI researchers divided. — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026 Aaron Caplan, a First Amendment expert who formerly taught at Loyola Marymount University's law school in Los Angeles, disputed Myers’ claim that he was protected because Shannon worked at a public university. — Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2026 Karimi disputed such allegations in social media posts on the matter and said the conflict stemmed from her own support for Palestine, which conflicted with Walton's views on Israel. — Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026 OpenAI disputed the claims about the company's internal decision-making. — Shannon Bond, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026 These are important issues because these claims often depend on how a jury evaluates the full workplace environment, the surrounding context, and disputed facts. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026 Reddington disputed the prosecution’s take on the elastic workout bands Clancy used to strangle her children. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2026 Different perspective But Joseph disputed the city’s account of its assistance. — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disputed

Adjective

Decades later, buses helped desegregate schools, hauling Black and white children across the country’s racial divide, a controversial practice that has mostly ended.

— Jeff McMurray, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Based on true events, Jacob Tremblay plays the 16-year-old Harvard prodigy who is subjected to controversial psychological experiments by Professor Henry Murray (Russell Crowe) and his eventual transformation into the Unabomber.

— Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of controversial

Verb

He was initially detained and questioned then released from Bahamian custody in April.

— Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Several election officials and government advocates have questioned how quickly the Postal Service can stand up the systems necessary to ensure the rule can be followed for this election.

— Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of questioned

Verb

King bickered with fans on social media.

— Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026
But Tilly and Gershon playfully bickered onstage as the former remembered things slightly differently, with Tilly saying the problem had more to do with a shot of her hand on Gershon's crotch that was deemed too realistic.

— Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 8 June 2026

Definition of bickered

Verb

Yet, Stella Lefty’s rise has been hotly debated — conversations about nepotism, originality, and TikTok’s influence on the music industry have taken over.

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
From Engineer To Operator How much FDE an organization needs versus traditional engineering is already being debated.

— Lutz Finger, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of debated

Adjective

The scientific evidence behind that idea, however, is inconclusive.

— Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Two more came out after his death in Los Angeles from two stab wounds to the chest, injuries that seemed self-inflicted though the coroner’s report was inconclusive.

— Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of inconclusive

Verb

Davis’ defense attorney, Michael Sanft, challenged jurors to identify evidence outside Davis’ own statements that placed him in Las Vegas or inside the Cadillac on the night Shakur was shot.

— Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
Still, the emotionally stunted John claims not to harbor ill feelings toward Hal, though this is most certainly challenged by the end of the episode.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of challenged

Verb

Group argued construction could be irreversible The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which is challenging the ballroom, had told the justices that the project would likely become irreversible unless it is stopped now.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Palal acknowledged that Davis’ accounts of the killing evolved over the years but argued those differences reflected Davis’ changing motivations and efforts to protect himself.

— Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of argued

Verb

Stuttgart’s Bilal El Khannouss, a No 10, was also discussed, but Fernandez-Pardo was Newcastle’s true focus.

— George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Elsewhere, the war in Ukraine was discussed Monday at a summit in Kyrgyzstan involving the leaders of China, Russia and India.

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

Definition of discussed

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

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Synonyms of disputed

adjective

verb

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