contentions

noun

plural of contention
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

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 contentions Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter, whose tenure brought team success and three World Series contentions, now faces significant scrutiny over his business practices. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 At the time, Sackler offered no response to these contentions. — Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 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
  1. arguments
  2. rivalries
  3. assertions
  4. battles
  5. hypotheses
  6. struggles
  7. conflicts
  8. confrontations
Noun
  • The Sezioni Unite — the highest rung of the Cassazione — accepted her arguments and overturned previous rulings, including one by a lower tier of the Cassazione which had upheld the minor issue as recently as 2024.
    — Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • They are sometimes submitted by outside parties in lawsuits to help stress particular arguments or inform a judge’s thinking.
    — Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of arguments
Noun
  • Because the Zoroastrian group in India has stood outside the principal religious rivalries between Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs, Lenny’s household initially offers an unaligned vantage on the city’s disintegration.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026
  • The 'Stans want to maximize trade and stay out of geopolitical rivalries.
    — Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of rivalries
Noun
  • Their assertions come on the heels of Class 6A Thomas County Central’s historic season in which the Yellow Jackets averaged nearly 54 points per game and beat every opponent by 14 or more on the way to a 15-0 season.
    — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Such assertions are clearly false and were almost certainly knowably false from the start.
    — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 22 July 2026
Definition of assertions
Noun
  • The organization, which is responsible for cleaning up the messes after superhero battles, has something that Jean wants locked inside a vault.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 31 July 2026
  • Boxing enthusiasts eagerly await an explosive showdown as Lamont Roach (25-1-3, 10 KOs) battles William Zepeda (33-1, 27 KOs) for the vacant WBC lightweight championship.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of battles
Noun
  • The World Health Organization’s independent scientific advisory group reported in 2025 that much of the information needed to fully evaluate the competing hypotheses had not been provided by China.
    — Art Jipson, The Conversation, 30 July 2026
  • The researchers, however, did not find that their data supported their hypotheses entirely.
    — Refractor, Refractor, 27 July 2026
Definition of hypotheses
Noun
  • This systemic difference leads to vastly higher capitalization and ticket prices on Broadway, indicating that its financial struggles will continue without significant policy intervention and public funding.
    — Katie North, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • As for his personal life, Eric has been open about his struggles with substance abuse.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 29 July 2026
Definition of struggles
Noun
  • Muse documents the prompts, approvals and models used across a production, while Copyright Guardian checks generated material for potential conflicts.
    — Maureen Kerr, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Talking through everyday responsibilities and standards for shared spaces helps prevent many of the conflicts couples report in their first year of cohabiting.
    — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 29 July 2026
Definition of conflicts
Noun
  • Israel has launched hundreds of airstrikes on Syrian military facilities and periodic incursions into villages outside the buffer zone, which have sometimes led to violent confrontations with residents.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
  • Additional confrontations and standoffs also occurred in Sikkim.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 July 2026
Definition of confrontations

Browse Nearby Words

contention
contentions
contentious
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Contentions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contentions. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on contentions

Nglish: Translation of contentions for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All