dispute
verb
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Definition of dispute
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to engage in argument : debate especially : to argue irritably or with irritating persistence
1a : to make the subject of verbal controversy or disputation Legislators hotly disputed the bill.
b : to call into question or cast doubt upon Her honesty was never disputed. The witness disputed the defendant's claim.
2a : to struggle against : oppose disputed the advance of the invaders
b : to contend over disputing ownership of the land
dispute
noun
ˈdis-ˌpyüt
\
Definition of dispute (Entry 2 of 2)
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Other words from dispute
Verb
ˈdis-pyə-
\
adjective
\
adverb
Synonyms & Antonyms for dispute
Synonyms: Verb
challenge, contest, impeach, oppugn, query, question
Synonyms: Noun
controversy, debate, difference, difficulty, disagreement, disputation, dissension (also dissention), firestorm
Antonyms: Verb
accept, believe, embrace, swallow
Antonyms: Noun
accord, agreement, consensus, harmony, unanimity
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Examples of dispute in a Sentence
Verb
You can dispute your bill if you believe it is inaccurate. These estimates are hotly disputed by scientists. No one ever disputed that it was the right decision. The source of the text has been disputed for centuries. a part of the city where two drug gangs are disputing territoryNoun
They could not settle their dispute. There is a labor dispute between workers and management. The two farmers are involved in a land dispute.
Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Dana Lombardo, director of communications at the Philadelphia Zoo, disputed claims that the teenagers were selling water. — De Elizabeth, Teen Vogue, "Police Arrested a Black Teen Who Was Reportedly Selling Water Outside the Philadelphia Zoo," 7 July 2018 Both sides are loud, adamant, and each disputing the other. — Zoe Harris, Marie Claire, "Trump's Child Detention Centers Are On Wikipedia's "Concentration and Internment Camps" List," 19 June 2018 More on Metro Detroit housing: The federal agency said the county could dispute the department's finding or enter into a pledge to address the issue. — Detroit Free Press, "Oakland County disputes HUD's claim that its housing policy is biased," 13 June 2018 Police stated Singh had been present during the sale, although his attorney disputed that account, producing an email exchange between him and Judith Powell, the liquor board’s special projects coordinator, the same afternoon as the compliance test. — David Anderson, The Aegis, "Harford liquor board fines four businesses for selling to a minor," 7 June 2018 The judge declined to opine on CBS’s contention, vigorously disputed by NAI, that the company’s certificate of incorporation authorizes the board to approve a stock dividend that would dilute NAI’s voting power. — Randall Chase, BostonGlobe.com, "Judge denies CBS restraining order against major shareholder," 18 May 2018 No one disputes Danny Paul Bible's guilt for a Houston woman's slaying nearly 40 years ago that went unsolved for two decades before a jury convicted him and sentenced him to death. — Michael Graczyk, Fox News, "Ailing Texas inmate wants execution by firing squad or gas," 28 June 2018 Charley Cooper, a managing director at R3, disputes the claims. — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, "Blockchain Firm R3 Is Running Out of Money, Sources Say," 7 June 2018 The Detroit Police Department disputes this characterization. — Marc Daalder, Detroit Free Press, "Motorcycle engines and blaring boomboxes keep Rivertown up at night," 5 June 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
The dispute is being pushed primarily by a single individual, a climber named Dan Howitt based in Portland, Oregon. — Nick Heil, Outside Online, "Are Kilian Jornet's Speed Records Too Good to Be True?," 12 July 2018 The trade dispute is likely to have a broader impact on the supply chain in the automotive industry. — William Boston, WSJ, "Tariff Dispute Threatens Exports of American-Made Cars," 10 July 2018 Richardson said police, who tried to mediate the situation, couldn't make out what the dispute was about. — Lisa Gutierrez, kansascity, "'All hell broke loose.' Priest throws family out of church before their mom's funeral," 2 July 2018 The council dispute over aid funding is part of a pattern of partisan rifts. — Don Stacom, Courant Community, "New Britain GOP, Democrats Square Off Over Aid Programs," 30 June 2018 But this dispute is essentially a tale of two elections: Germany's national election last September, and an upcoming Oct. 14 state vote in Bavaria. — Geir Moulson, Fox News, "Germany's Merkel faces race against time in migrant standoff," 28 June 2018 The dispute before the Supreme Court was whether to block the government from carrying out a version of the ban that Mr. Trump issued in September. — Charlie Savage, New York Times, "Korematsu, Notorious Supreme Court Ruling on Japanese Internment, Is Finally Tossed Out," 26 June 2018 The dispute is the most serious rift in the GCC since its creation in 1981. — The Economist, "Cold war in the heatWhy Gulf countries are feuding with Qatar," 21 June 2018 The dispute over regulations and airline policies is about what animals can travel for free with passengers in the cabin without cages. — Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, "Delta updates comfort-animal policy to one per passenger -- and no pit bulls," 21 June 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dispute.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for dispute
dispute
verb
English Language Learners Definition of dispute
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to say or show that (something) may not be true, correct, or legal
: to argue about (something)
: to fight in order to take control of (something)
dispute
noun
English Language Learners Definition of dispute (Entry 2 of 2)
: a disagreement or argument
See the full definition for dispute in the English Language Learners Dictionary
dispute
verb
\
Kids Definition of dispute
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : to question or deny the truth or rightness of No one ever disputed the story.
2 : argue sense 1 The boys disputed over who won the race.
3 : to fight over The two nations disputed the territory.
dispute
nounKids Definition of dispute (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : debate entry 1 sense 3 It is a fact beyond dispute.
dispute
verb
\
Legal Definition of dispute
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to engage in a dispute disputing with management over contract terms
: to engage in a dispute over disputing the correct application of the contract provision especially : to oppose by argument or assertion disputed changes to the grievance procedure
Other words from dispute
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adjective
dispute
nounLegal Definition of dispute (Entry 2 of 2)
: an assertion of opposing views or claims : a disagreement as to rights especially : one that is the subject of proceedings for resolution (as arbitration)
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