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
Kendall, DuPage and Will counties also have contested countywide races on Tuesday’s ballot.
—
Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Four primaries are fiercely contested.
—Washington Post Staff, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2026
Seats that had been held for decades were the subject of crowded and hotly contested races.
—CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
In 2023, approximately 3,600 importers contested the 25% tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of Chinese-origin goods at the Court of International Trade.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026
Responsibility for the collision is contested.
—Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2026
The language of ballot measures has been hotly contested for several key issues in the state.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2026
That year, Scotland and Turkey pulled out before the draw, India and France followed suit after it, and the first post-Second World War edition was contested by only 13 nations — sorted into two groups of four, one of three and one of two.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
The confidentiality of police officers was contested in court, leading to the Florida Supreme Court’s ruling.
—Gabriel Velasquez Neira, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Four primaries are fiercely contested.
—Washington Post Staff, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2026
Seats that had been held for decades were the subject of crowded and hotly contested races.
—CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
In 2023, approximately 3,600 importers contested the 25% tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of Chinese-origin goods at the Court of International Trade.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026
Responsibility for the collision is contested.
—Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2026
The language of ballot measures has been hotly contested for several key issues in the state.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2026
That year, Scotland and Turkey pulled out before the draw, India and France followed suit after it, and the first post-Second World War edition was contested by only 13 nations — sorted into two groups of four, one of three and one of two.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
The confidentiality of police officers was contested in court, leading to the Florida Supreme Court’s ruling.
—Gabriel Velasquez Neira, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contested
Verb
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Dobson, a researcher at Ghent University, challenged that assumption using high-resolution microscopy to examine melanosomes in platypus hair.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Mar. 2026
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However, Murphy also noted that the plaintiffs in the suit — professional groups led by the American Academy of Pediatrics – challenged the appointment of 14 ACIP members who do not include more recent appointees.—
Sarah Owermohle,
CNN Money,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Conversations with assistants and girlfriends get cut short or mediated by the very men whose behavior is being questioned.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
19 Mar. 2026
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Deputy Lisa Phillips cried on the stand about one of Afroman's more explicit songs that questioned her gender and sexuality.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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CapRadio has disputed allegations of neglecting the tower.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
17 Mar. 2026
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Paktyawal’s family has disputed the accuracy of that information, Zazy said.—
Jennifer Jett,
NBC news,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contested.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contested. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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