1
2
as in explanation
a statement given to explain a belief or act gave a solid argument for the redeeming value of the shockingly violent movie

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4
as in contention
an idea or opinion that is put forth in a discussion or debate it's my argument that we have too many problems here on earth to concern ourselves with manned trips to Mars

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 argument And what may have been intended by the Kremlin as a way of bolstering its arguments over Ukraine, has possibly plunged us all into new, dangerous and unpredictable era. Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025 Jim attributed the decline to investor rejection of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg ’s argument to spend more to front-load AI capacity. Paulina Likos, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025 Scream With Me expands on this argument with its analysis of The Exorcist, a movie that Johnson interprets as a parable about physical abuse; its male demon torments and beats a single working mother and her child. Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2025 During what appeared to be an argument, Leggett abruptly pulled a handgun out of his pocked and put it to Owais' chest and pulled the trigger, the complaint says the surveillance footage showed. Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 30 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for argument
Recent Examples of Synonyms for argument
Noun
  • Diplomacy is critical to resolve disputes such as the Helmand River conflict, while the government must manage human and economic effects—such as shrinking harvests and salt-dust health risks.
    Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
  • The streaming service lost 21 channels after the live TV provider's contract dispute with The Walt Disney Company ended in an impasse.
    Jenny Porter Tilley, Louisville Courier Journal, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But the idea that Earhart ended up an island castaway is far from widely accepted, and another team of researchers is racing to close in on proof of an alternate explanation.
    Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Scientists researched the phenomenon for decades without finding a logical explanation.
    Graham Averill, Outside, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The eyeball test says BYU and Cincinnati are legit good, and Texas Tech belongs in that same discussion.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Oct. 2025
  • And this model of access, dependent on negotiation and renegotiation and repeated discussions about individual items, is neither sustainable nor capable of delivering aid at the scale that is needed.
    Anna Halford, Time, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Canada is looking to reset relations with China after years of contention, as Ottawa’s trade spat with Washington worsens.
    J.D. Capelouto, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • More importantly, Flacco has helped the Bengals stay in contention for the AFC North division title, something that seemed improbable when franchise QB Joe Burrow went down with an injury early in the season.
    Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • De Silva, police noted, was an innocent bystander who was not involved in the quarrel and was not believed to have been the target.
    Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Marta and Antonio, partners of many years, quarrel and suddenly break up.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • During the tour for the band's previous album, We, singer Feist dropped out of the lineup as the opening act, citing the accusations against Butler as the reason for her departure.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
  • There are many reasons to want to preserve or rebuild oyster reefs, researchers say.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The potential use of AI in esports — or competitive gaming — has sparked debate, however.
    Lucy Handley, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2025
  • Now, Bryan’s latest song has stirred debate over how far immigration enforcement should go and who gets caught in its reach, and whether their hometown country star crossed a line by wading into politics.
    Tyler Kingkade, NBC news, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Taiwan, too, should keep enhancing its civil and military defenses while restraining its assertions of sovereignty in cross-strait affairs.
    STEPHEN WERTHEIM, Foreign Affairs, 28 Oct. 2025
  • None of four has commented publicly on Davis’ assertions.
    Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Argument.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/argument. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on argument

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!