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
Relevance
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
At the time, Sackler offered no response to these contentions.
—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
12 June 2026
Nowhere is this reconciliation more evident than in the enduring contentions surrounding France’s Pacific territory of New Caledonia, also known as Kanak by its native community.
—
Wesley Alexander Hill,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
The main contentions were the state not fully funding public schools according to the state’s funding formula and an additional $10 million to support the Missouri Scholars Program, which can go toward students in private schools.
—
Jack Harvel,
Kansas City Star,
7 May 2026
The passing of time is the only thing that will reveal the veracity of their contentions and what some of the underlying numbers suggest regarding the quality of their at-bats not being reflected in their production.
—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
An administration official would make a claim about what happened, and later evidence would find these contentions to be misleading.
—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Feb. 2026
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
12 June 2026
Nowhere is this reconciliation more evident than in the enduring contentions surrounding France’s Pacific territory of New Caledonia, also known as Kanak by its native community.
—
Wesley Alexander Hill,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
The main contentions were the state not fully funding public schools according to the state’s funding formula and an additional $10 million to support the Missouri Scholars Program, which can go toward students in private schools.
—
Jack Harvel,
Kansas City Star,
7 May 2026
The passing of time is the only thing that will reveal the veracity of their contentions and what some of the underlying numbers suggest regarding the quality of their at-bats not being reflected in their production.
—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
An administration official would make a claim about what happened, and later evidence would find these contentions to be misleading.
—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contentions
Noun
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Attorneys posed dueling accounts of Payton and Martin’s roles in the deadly 2022 K Street shootings as closing arguments resumed Wednesday in the pair’s murder trial in Sacramento Superior Court.
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Even during the high court arguments in April, advocates for children worried that these impacts were being overlooked.
Noun
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First, the worst conference changes hadn’t struck yet, and some of the rivalries torn apart by previous realignments were even getting back together.
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As Miranda works to protect the magazine's influence, old alliances and rivalries are tested, putting Andy in the middle of another complicated chapter in her career.
Noun
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Asked about Sigcho-Lopez’s assertions, a spokesperson for the governor referred us to a spokesman for his campaign, who didn’t respond to our requests for comment.
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Pattie Gonia has disputed those assertions in online videos, but declined to comment further to Fortune, citing the pending litigation.
Noun
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Informal Beyblade battles are popping up in strangest of places, with players huddling in parks, gyms and shopping malls.
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Unlike in Jalisco or Michoacán, spectacular gun battles are hardly ever seen in Colima.
Noun
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Mythos can also produce novel research and hypotheses in areas like molecular biology and genomics.
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Researchers still don’t know exactly why sleep problems and high blood pressure seem to go hand in hand, but experts have a few hypotheses.
Noun
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But the focus stays very much on the struggles of married life.
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The book came out when mental illness was heavily stigmatized; Styron paved the way for authors to write about their own struggles with depression and similar disorders.
Noun
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Clients should understand whether the advisor is legally obligated to put their interests first, how conflicts are disclosed and whether recommendations are shaped by commissions, proprietary products or outside incentives.
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These conflicts raged on through the pandemic, when the country was generally going insane, and in 2022, when President Joe Biden exercised his right to appoint a new chair, Rios took what was in effect a thankless cleanup job.
Noun
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Community leaders and Democratic lawmakers have railed against the practice, which has led to dramatic confrontations in the hallways outside courtrooms.
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The demonstrations have unleashed violent confrontations between dynamite-wielding demonstrators and riot police, leading to at least 365 arrests and 37 injuries, according to authorities.
Cite this Entry
“Contentions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contentions. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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