Synonym Chooser

How does the noun contention contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of contention are conflict, discord, dissension, strife, and variance. While all these words mean "a state or condition marked by a lack of agreement or harmony," contention applies to strife or competition that shows itself in quarreling, disputing, or controversy.

several points of contention about the new zoning law

When would conflict be a good substitute for contention?

The synonyms conflict and contention are sometimes interchangeable, but conflict usually stresses the action of forces in opposition but in static applications implies an irreconcilability as of duties or desires.

the conflict of freedom and responsibility

Where would discord be a reasonable alternative to contention?

In some situations, the words discord and contention are roughly equivalent. However, discord implies an intrinsic or essential lack of harmony producing quarreling, factiousness, or antagonism.

a political party long racked by discord

When can dissension be used instead of contention?

While in some cases nearly identical to contention, dissension implies strife or discord and stresses a division into factions.

religious dissension threatened to split the colony

When is it sensible to use strife instead of contention?

The words strife and contention can be used in similar contexts, but strife emphasizes a struggle for superiority rather than the incongruity or incompatibility of the persons or things involved.

during his brief reign the empire was never free of civil strife

When might variance be a better fit than contention?

The meanings of variance and contention largely overlap; however, variance implies a clash between persons or things owing to a difference in nature, opinion, or interest.

cultural variances that work against a national identity

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 contention Use him as the most attractive asset that could lure the sort of behemoth that could help this group bully their way back into contention. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025 All of those countries have territorial seas extending out from their coasts, but there are contentions among passageways and dividers like the Lomonosov Ridge, an underwater mountain range claimed by Denmark, Canada and Russia. Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 May 2025 Choosing a Winning Mentality over Strategic Defeat In the NBA, every championship run or era of playoff contention eventually comes to an end, and all teams enter a rebuilding process. Mark Lasota, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025 The contention involves Councilmember Mike Kozlowski, who serves the city’s northern area divided by a river. Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 5 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for contention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contention
Noun
  • There is certainly an argument that a draw would have been a fair result, a debate further enhanced by the tone of Howe’s comments afterwards.
    Simon Johnson, New York Times, 13 May 2025
  • During an argument in the car, Lanez allegedly directed expletives at Megan and her friend.
    Jordana Comiter, People.com, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • At times, the rivalry between the players has become the biggest topic of discussion in sports and eclipsed the athletic world, raising issues of race and gender equality.
    Sean Neumann, People.com, 20 May 2025
  • This is a space that is ripe for standardization, the entry of new players in the market, and more vendor rivalries and drama.
    John Burek, PC Magazine, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • Some of the assertions have generated confusion, leaving key U.S. tax concepts insufficiently addressed.
    Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
  • The police verified Jenna’s assertion that the tank had been empty all along, but for some reason, no one had thought to check whether the valve had been opened.
    Max Gao, Variety, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • The event is the world's biggest music competition, watched by more than 160 million people across the world.
    John Revill, USA Today, 19 May 2025
  • With only five returning players, even Clark said Indiana needed competition to learn more about areas of improvement.
    Ben Pickman, New York Times, 18 May 2025
Noun
  • For this storm, my immediate hypothesis was related to dry conditions and outflow boundaries racing northward from thunderstorms to the south.
    Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
  • According to one popular hypothesis, the pot had eventually boiled over: after eons of frustrated heating, some 800 million years ago, the planet’s outer shell buckled, and Venus’s entire surface was paved over with immense outpourings of fresh lava.
    Elise Cutts, Scientific American, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • As a 60-person battle royale, matches can be extremely long and, in tournament play, repeat over and over for hours until a winning team can be crowned.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2025
  • Vance met with the late Pope Francis on April 20, less than 24 hours before the pope died following a weeks-long battle with double pneumonia and other health issues.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • Denver won Game 3 because Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray each scored at least 20 points, which went a long way toward subduing the struggles of Jokić.
    Tony Jones, New York Times, 12 May 2025
  • The independent federal agency has been facing financial struggles in recent years, having implemented a 10-year plan to stabilize in 2021.
    Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 May 2025
Noun
  • The White House has said there is no conflict and that the president is acting in the interests of the American public and not his own.
    Susan Heavey, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • The child’s interest became the starting point to explore the moral and human conflict.
    Alissa Simon, Variety, 14 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Contention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contention. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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