disputing

verb

present participle of dispute
1
as in questioning
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
2
as in bickering
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
3
as in discussing
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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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 disputing Art of Play subsequently responded on social media, disputing Clarkson’s account of the interaction and explaining that the item in question was a mechanical singing bird named Molly. — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026 Purists may debate the merits of servicing and restoration, but there’s no disputing the bragging rights that come with owning a Daytona tied to one of motorsport’s historic victories. — Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2026 James posted on his Instagram story Tuesday night disputing what Breen said. — Cbs Philadelphia, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026 But only five years later, in November 2020, the military’s proxy party lost a second consecutive election and, three months later, after disputing the results, seized power through a coup. — Andrew Nachemson, The Dial, 22 Sep. 2026 Nobody's disputing that, but where does their fame end and infamy begin? — Janelle Ash , Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2026 During a Tuesday night press briefing, Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman stated that the officer and Smith exchanged gunfire near North 38th and West Wright streets − a claim the family is disputing after reviewing body camera footage. — April Quevedo, jsonline.com, 11 Sep. 2026 Longtime Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo, through attorney Bryan Freedman, is disputing reports that she has been fired by Fox News Media. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026 In a settlement agreement reached last year, Conservice agreed to provide any California tenant disputing their bill with copies of invoices and formulas used to determine their specific charges. — Audrey McGlinchy, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disputing
  1. questioning
  2. bickering
  3. discussing
  4. contesting
  5. arguing
  6. debating
  7. challenging
  8. fighting
Verb
  • The home’s dissolving interior boundary suits an artist who has spent her career questioning where humans fit within the vastness of space and time.
    — Jane Horowitz, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The hiding place was disclosed by a third suspect during questioning.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of questioning
Verb
  • 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
  • There’s striker Josie Gordon, bickering twin sisters Siobhan and Niamh, glove-shunning goalie Katie ‘Boots’ Quinn and couple Maddie and Margy.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of bickering
Verb
  • Using one term as shorthand for another can blur information patients may be looking for when reading about a medication or discussing a prescription with a provider.
    — Emma Clapp, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Jurors are now discussing hours of video and several witness and expert testimonies.
    — Kaicey Baylor, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of discussing
Verb
  • Boyles responded that the groups were contesting the decisions based on the law, and not asking the panel to substitute its own views about wolves for those of the federal government.
    — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Seid paid all fines and tickets without contesting them, Axios reported.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of contesting
Verb
  • By arguing for the necessity of the chains of deportation today, Vance makes an eerily similar case.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Good luck enforcing Potemkin guarantees from hyperscalers or arguing that local protests excuse a construction delay that blew a hole in the financing.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of arguing
Verb
  • The Presbyterian seminary student made the comment while debating legislation related to transgender people participating in school sports.
    — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Agree On Decision Criteria First Agree on the decision criteria before debating the decision.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of debating
Verb
  • Of course, the contexts stricken by war and state failure are challenging.
    — David Miliband, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Democracy Forward, which is representing the plaintiffs challenging his renovation plans, responded by saying that the course is part of a national park and recreation facility that is meant for everyone to enjoy.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of challenging
Verb
  • Rather than fighting strict local regulations head-on, companies like Waymo, Zoox, and Aurora are prioritizing states with explicit legislative preemption that prevents individual cities from banning the technology.
    — Andrew Hawkins, The Verge, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The procedure had already been approved, and everyone involved understood that my doctor had spent months fighting to secure authorization.
    — Scott Levenson, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of fighting

Browse Nearby Words

disputes
disputing
disqualification
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Cite this Entry

“Disputing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disputing. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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