1
as in controversy
variance of opinion on a matter
a dispute over the proper pronunciation of "nuclear"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in quarrel
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
after much dispute, the school committee decided that all backpacks would have to be stored in lockers during class hours
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to question
to demand proof of the truth or rightness of
a whole slew of relatives eager to dispute his claim to being the sole heir
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to bicker
to express different opinions about something often angrily
hometown fans disputing with visiting fans over which had the better team
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to debate
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
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 dispute
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
What seems to be at the heart of this latest dispute is publishing royalties for digital exploitation, meaning online sales or streaming.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2025
Andrew Raine, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Chicago Public Schools settled with two former Lincoln Park High School administrators last month, following a five-year legal battle that began after their 2020 firings based on claims that were eventually disputed.
—Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dispute
Noun
Of course, Harvard must also receive assurances that no further recrimination will follow and any disputes in the future about the deal will be resolved outside of the courts.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
What seems to be at the heart of this latest dispute is publishing royalties for digital exploitation, meaning online sales or streaming.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
Dissenting voices Twelve months after Maduro’s disputed victory in the presidential election – a vote in which the government did not publish a final vote count, and which prompted a vast international outcry – the government’s repressive machinery continues.
—Andrew Raine, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Chicago Public Schools settled with two former Lincoln Park High School administrators last month, following a five-year legal battle that began after their 2020 firings based on claims that were eventually disputed.
—Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dispute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispute
Noun
-
But Brown became entangled in a controversy of her own this spring when she was indicted alongside her two adult daughters on charges of wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud used to falsely obtain pandemic relief loans.—
Nick Sullivan,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
-
While some among Democrats cast him as the party’s national leader and a natural choice for their 2028 nominee, conservative critics point to his past controversies, including other pay-for-play stories.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
While unconfirmed, we’re told that the film sees Louise, the alcoholic mother of Mike (Hechinger) and Tommy, take off after a quarrel with her husband Lester — walking with her dog to the home of her brother Frank, quite a few miles away.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The quarrel continued to escalate, spurring Ates to send the man his location.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Comer has questioned the former president’s use of the autopen for pardons and executive orders and whether his aides covered up his cognitive decline.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Attorneys will question three sets of 60 people to settle on twelve jurors and four alternates.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Coaches are also bickering about money, a topic that would have felt out of place 10 years ago.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The crew members bicker among themselves.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The students in the club participated in National History Day, a competition where students present a topic of their interest, and the YMCA Youth and Government Program’s Model Legislative Session, where students debate bills at the Arizona Capitol.—
Erick Trevino,
AZCentral.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Trials make disputes public, and jury trials allow citizens to debate the issues and return verdicts that reflect their community.—
Richard Lorren Jolly,
The Conversation,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
According to him, advances in machine learning have yanked questions once trapped inside theological/philosophical disputations into corporate board packs.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Jake is a single father who has brought Kristen up in the severe Calvinist tradition, marked by Bible disputations of Talmudic intricacy and by a radical detachment from secular and popular culture.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2023
Noun
-
The Buffalo Bills ejected the fan who got into an altercation with Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson during Sunday night’s game at Highmark Stadium.—
Jenna West,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The altercation happened with about eight minutes remaining in the third quarter of the game.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But over the past few years, conservatives have used the committee as a personal tool to subvert and challenge GOP leaders.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Foreign-aid organizations challenged the administration's ability to refuse to spend funds already allocated by Congress.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dispute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispute. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share