disputed; disputing
: to engage in argument : debate
especially
: to argue irritably or with irritating persistence
1
a
: 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.
2
a
: to struggle against : oppose
disputed the advance of the invaders
b
: to contend over
disputing ownership of the land
disputer
noun
dis·pute
di-ˈspyüt 
ˈdi-ˌspyüt
ˈdi-ˌspyüt
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 territory
Noun
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
Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Others dispute that, saying a quick resumption of diplomacy isn’t still likely given how much has changed since 2019 — both the size of North Korea’s nuclear program and its foreign policy leverage.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
The dispute highlights the deep mistrust and volatility defining relations between the two governments, with both sides reinforcing military deployments and intensifying rhetoric, raising fears of direct confrontation.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dispute
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show current usage.
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Verb
Jim Trusty, Rozier’s attorney, strongly disputed the accusations, saying that prosecutors characterized Rozier as a subject of their investigation and not a target.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Others dispute that, saying a quick resumption of diplomacy isn’t still likely given how much has changed since 2019 — both the size of North Korea’s nuclear program and its foreign policy leverage.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
In January 2010, former All-Star Gilbert Arenas was arrested in violation of gun control laws after he and a teammate, Javaris Crittenton, took firearms to the Washington Wizards’ locker room as a result of a gambling dispute.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
The dispute highlights the deep mistrust and volatility defining relations between the two governments, with both sides reinforcing military deployments and intensifying rhetoric, raising fears of direct confrontation.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dispute
Cite this Entry
“Dispute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dispute. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dispute
2 of 2 noun1
2
: an angry difference of opinion : quarrel
Legal Definition
dispute
1 of 2 verb
dis·pute
di-ˈspyüt
disputed; disputing
: 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
dispute
2 of 2 noun
: 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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