1
as in arguments
an idea or opinion that is put forth in a discussion or debate
my contention is that today's lower batting averages are the result of better pitching
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in rivalries
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
several actresses seem to be in heated contention for the title of "worst dressed"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contentions
However, the reality is that peace talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the US and Europe are clearly stalled, if at worse dead with many contentions from both sides surrounding security concerns and, importantly, trade sanctions.
—
Earl Carr, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Earl Carr, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contentions
Noun
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The Powell trial could serve as a literal test case to see how a jury reacts to testimony about allegations that date back some 50 years and arguments about what level of scrutiny Riverside should have given Lorch and the basketball program.—
Luke Cyphers,
Sportico.com,
7 Jan. 2026
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Why did so many people in states with Democrat-majority governments want to keep the COVID emergency going, want it so badly that all rational arguments offered in support of reopening were ignored or answered with obscenity-laden accusations of grandma-killing?—
Susan Shelley,
Oc Register,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Anyone who has followed the devastating violence in California’s prisons knows that gang rivalries trigger a lot of the bloodshed.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
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With the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers set to face off in Saturday nights' playoff game, some local couples are hoping love can overcome even the biggest of rivalries.—
Marissa Perlman,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Scharf repeated his past assertions that the planning commission doesn't usually have jurisdiction over site work and demolition on any project, including those at the White House.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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Despite the assertions, Maduro maintained his firm grip on power.—
Regina Garcia Cano,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The facility, which is surrounded by the Everglades and Big Cypress National Preserve, also has led to separate legal battles in federal court.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Jan. 2026
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Soon the scene devolved into individual battles between officers and rioters.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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When anyone with a creative spark can orchestrate a cloud of AI agents to build prototypes, analyze markets, and test hypotheses, the cost of trying something new plummets.—
Erik Brynjolfsson,
Time,
2 Jan. 2026
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Engineers use agents to test hypotheses.—
Norbert Jung,
Fortune,
17 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The actors will deliver quotes from the artists, thereby giving viewers a better understanding of the process and struggles of artists, Challis Davy said.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
12 Jan. 2026
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However, all but one Horned Frog who got in the game scored, and Campbell said the team’s scoring versatility matters even more when one of the team’s top scorers struggles.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The township is arguing that state law regarding government employee protections against lawsuits conflicts with federal court rulings.—
Laura A. Bischoff,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Jan. 2026
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Similar false or misleading content has circulated during the Israeli-Palestine and Russia-Ukraine conflicts.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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After more confrontations, she was briefly detained by police.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Jan. 2026
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Television news has always had a different approach to investigative work, attempting to engineer dramatic confrontations between the person or institution under scrutiny and the intrepid reporter.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contentions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contentions. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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