as in quarrel
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
there was a bit of a contretemps over the seating arrangements for the upcoming wedding
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contretemps
Moore’s personal biography – despite these minor contretemps – proved more than compelling enough for Maryland voters.
—
Peniel E. Joseph, CNN, 9 Nov. 2022
To outsiders, the summer’s weeks-long contretemps over the prime minister’s after-hours activities might seem like a tempest in a Nordic teapot.
—Michael Hunt, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2022
The Dallas visit avoided the contretemps of the Washington portion of the trip.
—Dallas News, 2 June 2022
The normally dignified sport had a brief contretemps at the time of the opening game this year.
—New York Times, 1 Dec. 2021
See All Example Sentences for contretemps
Peniel E. Joseph, CNN, 9 Nov. 2022
To outsiders, the summer’s weeks-long contretemps over the prime minister’s after-hours activities might seem like a tempest in a Nordic teapot.
—Michael Hunt, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2022
The Dallas visit avoided the contretemps of the Washington portion of the trip.
—Dallas News, 2 June 2022
The normally dignified sport had a brief contretemps at the time of the opening game this year.
—New York Times, 1 Dec. 2021
See All Example Sentences for contretemps
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contretemps
Noun
-
This disagreement became our favorite quarrel.—
Elisa Wouk Almino
Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Department of Defense’s quarrel with the Anthropic began after the company refused to back down over contractual guardrails around the use of its Claude AI model in autonomous weapons and mass surveillance.—
Devan Cole,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Security broke up the altercation, but the fight resumed outside in the parking lot, prompting security at UWM Sports Complex to call the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.—
Alysia Burgio,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
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In the video, recorded by Mortensen on his cellphone, Paul can be seen screaming and throwing metal chairs, one of which struck one of her children who witnessed the altercation, according to the criminal indictment.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There are also disputes over land and grazing between mostly Muslim Fulani herders and largely Christian farming communities frequently escalate into deadly clashes in the north-central and northwestern part of the country.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The Federal Trade Commission and StubHub this week settled a dispute over allegations that StubHub concealed the actual, total prices of tickets over a three-day period in May 2025.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The massive road project, decades in planning, has been enveloped in controversy even before getting underway.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
-
In August 2022, 10 miners died when the El Pinabete coal mine in Coahuila flooded — a disaster that sparked intense controversy by revealing how many Mexican laborers work without essential safety protections or official supervision.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But there are issues and there are disagreements and there are hurt feelings.—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Yes, but major disagreements remained.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In our old travel life, a closed highway might have triggered a stressful bicker-fest over a paper map.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Yet the agency tasked with keeping Americans safe — one of the few responsibilities just about everyone agrees is appropriate for government — remains unfunded as Congress bickers over immigration politics.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Huskies coach ripped into the officiating during a live TV interview and then had a heated argument with Staley in the final seconds of their 62-48 loss to the Gamecocks.—
David Brandt,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
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The mayor cites recent data to support his arguments.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The confrontation, which led to multiple 911 calls reporting a fight involving a firearm, resulted in the arrest of Ahmad Zeeshan.—
Nikiya Carrero,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The United States Powered Paragliding Association and Experimental Aircraft Association have written letters supporting the ultralight pilots in their fight against the county airport, as cited in the documents under review for the FAA’s upcoming decision.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contretemps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contretemps. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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