as in to argue
to express different opinions about something often angrily
ever since the poem was first published, critics and scholars have controverted over the meaning of its concluding lines
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Recent Examples of controvert
Those then who controvert the principle that the constitution is to be considered, in court, as a paramount law, are reduced to the necessity of maintaining that courts must close their eyes on the constitution, and see only the law.
—
Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 29 July 2025
Many of those people had been convicted of assaulting police officers, prompting a backlash from Democrats — and even some Republicans — who said Trump’s move controverted Republican claims of being the party that champions law and order and personal responsibility.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 23 Jan. 2025
Even assuming this is true (and this description will be controverted at trial), a monopoly by itself does not violate the antitrust laws.
—Alden Abbott, Forbes, 7 Sep. 2024
The appellate court noted that the woman’s testimony was controverted.
—Virginia Hammerle, Dallas News, 16 May 2023
During the upcoming weeks and through the appeal a slew of additional credible and controverting evidence will come to light.
—Ben Shpigel, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2017
Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 29 July 2025
Many of those people had been convicted of assaulting police officers, prompting a backlash from Democrats — and even some Republicans — who said Trump’s move controverted Republican claims of being the party that champions law and order and personal responsibility.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 23 Jan. 2025
Even assuming this is true (and this description will be controverted at trial), a monopoly by itself does not violate the antitrust laws.
—Alden Abbott, Forbes, 7 Sep. 2024
The appellate court noted that the woman’s testimony was controverted.
—Virginia Hammerle, Dallas News, 16 May 2023
During the upcoming weeks and through the appeal a slew of additional credible and controverting evidence will come to light.
—Ben Shpigel, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controvert
Verb
-
When its army entered Gaza in late 1956, the Israeli government argued that national security interests required it to control the Strip.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The issue of filing deadlines wasn't argued before the Supreme Court, nor the circuit court, Wood said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The pair bicker and bond their way through the whimsical Panda Kingdom, a vibrant world that blends the everyday with the extraordinary, carrying animals and humans alike into something at once magical and mundane.—
Ben Croll,
Variety,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Roberts and Tim Robbins play American journalists in Paris who lose their luggage and bicker over a hotel room and then wind up in bed together.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Mayor Sue Finkam found the dollars to quell many concerns from city councilors about the budget, but officials still quarreled over the transparency of some dollars earmarked for Carmel’s legal department.—
Jake Allen,
IndyStar,
22 Oct. 2025
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The discovery was entirely by chance, and happened when an officer responded to Mirella's parents' residence after neighbors reported quarreling, per several outlets.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
More than other age groups, teens have to fight to stay on a schedule that doesn't match their biology.—
NPR,
NPR,
2 Nov. 2025
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Since taking office, Manzo, often seen wearing a bulletproof vest, had called on the federal government to do more to fight organized crime while expressing fears for his own safety.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Controvert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controvert. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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