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
-
Closing arguments are scheduled for Thursday, after which the jury will begin deliberations.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Porter scheduled oral arguments for February 6.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The barbs thrown back and forth, creating headlines and fueling rivalries.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
15 Jan. 2026
-
JSerra-Mater Dei soccer is among the better rivalries in Orange County sports.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
This is because monetary policy utterly lacks the excitement of battles or uprisings and the drama of high-level diplomacy.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The Patriots are bound for the AFC Championship Game because their defense has afforded Maye enough time to work through his mistakes in the first two playoff games of his career, both battles against elite defenses.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Engineers use agents to test hypotheses.—
Norbert Jung,
Fortune,
17 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The film centers on Malu, whose struggles with unresolved trauma and a difficult child take a nightmarish turn when an inexplicable curse brings toilets to life as murderous creatures, plunging her into a bizarre realm where maternal responsibilities, loss and existential dread intertwine.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
15 Jan. 2026
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Based on the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco, this story highlights the struggles of a diverse group of women who come together to survive more than the destruction of their city.—
Barbara Ellis,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The board has been envisioned as a technocratic body designed to resolve conflicts around the world, branching out from its original conception as a body designed to solve the war in Gaza.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Jan. 2026
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The toolkit avoids direct discussion of the cultural conflicts that have erupted in the MAGA era between red states that vote heavily Republican and blue states that favor Democrats.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Perhaps this is why the administration has taken the bizarre step of actively seeking confrontations with celebrities.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
20 Jan. 2026
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Protests and confrontations have intensified following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer earlier this month.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contentions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contentions. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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