as in challenged
to demand proof of the truth or rightness of
vowed to contest the claim in court
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Recent Examples of contested
The court rejected the argument, concluding that a prospective rate hearing — unlike that on the response time — would be considered contested and the utility would have the opportunity to challenge the finding of imprudence then.
—
Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 29 Apr. 2026
It has been contested almost annually without interruption since 10 years after the end of the Civil War, and on the first Saturday in May for almost a century.
—NBC news, 29 Apr. 2026
With access to the painting contested, the court moved to place it under state control rather than leave it with either party.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Sibtain contested that his client was attempting to give full and honest answers.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2026
In practice, the CRTC routinely consults stakeholders on policy matters although the adequacy and meaningfulness of efforts to consult the general public is often contested by scholars and civil society practitioners.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
That’s how tightly contested the series has been.
—Eduardo A. Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026
The safety of glyphosate is still contested.
—Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Though the participation rate was near levels in past elections, many cities -- including Ramallah and Nablus -- did not have contested elections.
—Sam Metz, Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2026
Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 29 Apr. 2026
It has been contested almost annually without interruption since 10 years after the end of the Civil War, and on the first Saturday in May for almost a century.
—NBC news, 29 Apr. 2026
With access to the painting contested, the court moved to place it under state control rather than leave it with either party.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Sibtain contested that his client was attempting to give full and honest answers.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2026
In practice, the CRTC routinely consults stakeholders on policy matters although the adequacy and meaningfulness of efforts to consult the general public is often contested by scholars and civil society practitioners.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
That’s how tightly contested the series has been.
—Eduardo A. Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026
The safety of glyphosate is still contested.
—Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Though the participation rate was near levels in past elections, many cities -- including Ramallah and Nablus -- did not have contested elections.
—Sam Metz, Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contested
Verb
-
In a 6-3 decision along ideological lines, the justices sided with plaintiffs in a Louisiana case that challenged if the state's congressional maps relied too heavily on race to sort voters.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
-
Adger also allegedly threatened to kill officers and challenged them to fight, deputies said in reports citing a Sacramento police probable cause warrant.—
Darrell Smith
May 1,
Sacbee.com,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Senators from both parties questioned Means about her vaccine stance and nontraditional medical background during a contentious confirmation hearing in February, threatening her path forward.—
Ali Swenson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Amid the protest, which included chants, songs, and a skit where Duke Energy was represented by someone dressed as the devil, Corinne Mack, president of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg NAACP questioned whether Duke leaders were truly hearing residents’ concerns.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Iranian officials disputed those claims.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
5 May 2026
-
The story of how the Declaration of Independence came to be written has been told many times but remains disputed, if not hotly, then lukewarmly.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contested.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contested. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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