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
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Recent Examples of dispute
Gene Maddaus, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
At home, the villagers are disturbed when settlers start to encroach on their land, but after one of the elders is shot and killed during a dispute with their new neighbors, the British side violently with the settlers.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026
Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
Her lawyer said Cherfilus-McCormick disputes the allegations and the report.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dispute
Noun
If management was unwilling to accept the latest offer or negotiate based on it, the WGSU suggested that the dispute could be submitted for binding arbitration at the California State Mediation and Conciliation Service or to the American Arbitration Association.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
At home, the villagers are disturbed when settlers start to encroach on their land, but after one of the elders is shot and killed during a dispute with their new neighbors, the British side violently with the settlers.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
Barzee throughout the proceedings disputed the allegations that Cherfilus-McCormick violated House ethics rules or participated in a campaign finance scheme.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
Her lawyer said Cherfilus-McCormick disputes the allegations and the report.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dispute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispute
Noun
-
There have been controversies and debates over the extent to which the military should accommodate religious expression.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
-
That measure has been consistent in recent months despite a cascade of actions, including confrontations over Greenland and an attack on Venezuela, that have generated controversy at home and abroad.—
Linley Sanders,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Department of Defense’s quarrel with the Anthropic began after the company refused to back down over contractual guardrails around the use of its Claude AI model in autonomous weapons and mass surveillance.—
Devan Cole,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
-
My quarrel is not with the science of LNG itself.—
Joel McPherson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
If someone invokes these rights, police are supposed to stop questioning them immediately.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Quinn says investigators questioned his story.—
Lauren Clark,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Marketa Daley’s three children weren’t quite old enough to bicker with each other when the family began hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in March 2022.—
David Gleisner,
Outside,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Ukraine's European allies have promised to maintain their steadfast support, but bickering over a major 90 billion euro ($106 billion) European Union loan to cover Kyiv's military and economic needs for two years has reflected the mounting challenges.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The name-changing process Burbank Unified set up committees to debate the topic, first to decide whether there should be a name change, and then what the new name should be.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
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Instead of debating calls for hours, fans get a clear answer almost instantly.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
28 Mar. 2026
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
-
Deputies responded on the night of March 20 to an address along 6th Avenue following reports of a verbal altercation at a gathering.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Not for nothing — no one in this altercation is wearing a helmet on their bike!—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Pittsburgh challenged for goaltender interference but was unsuccessful.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Courtesy Safa Sefidgari Last year, the couple joined a group lawsuit challenging the administration’s travel ban.—
Alicia Victoria Lozano,
NBC news,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dispute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispute. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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