as in defendant
a person who takes part in a dispute
there were only three disputants in the argument, but they made enough noise for a dozen
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Recent Examples of disputant
The Jay Treaty asked the disputants merely to start a process leading to the appointment of arbitrators qualified to decide their disputes fairly and finally.
—
Tom Bell, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2025
The audience and actor are like disputants kept in different rooms, forbidden to see each other fully.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
However, if the harassment or dispute is simply two neighbors being un-neighborly toward each other, the HOA’s best response may be to offer a volunteer board member to meet with the disputants to try to host a discussion between them.
—Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025
My disputant’s particular problem wasn’t with Carpenter’s voice but with its anodyne middle-of-the-road context (both musically and culturally).
—Wesley Stace, WSJ, 20 Dec. 2018
The debate over medicine today is like that baby, but with disputants who won’t fall for Solomon’s trick.
—Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry, National Review, 24 Oct. 2017
One way for other financial centres, such as Dubai and Singapore, to compete is by becoming hubs for arbitration—by agreeing to abide by the decision of a tribunal, disputants can bypass courts entirely.
—The Economist, 31 Aug. 2017
Tom Bell, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2025
The audience and actor are like disputants kept in different rooms, forbidden to see each other fully.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
However, if the harassment or dispute is simply two neighbors being un-neighborly toward each other, the HOA’s best response may be to offer a volunteer board member to meet with the disputants to try to host a discussion between them.
—Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025
My disputant’s particular problem wasn’t with Carpenter’s voice but with its anodyne middle-of-the-road context (both musically and culturally).
—Wesley Stace, WSJ, 20 Dec. 2018
The debate over medicine today is like that baby, but with disputants who won’t fall for Solomon’s trick.
—Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry, National Review, 24 Oct. 2017
One way for other financial centres, such as Dubai and Singapore, to compete is by becoming hubs for arbitration—by agreeing to abide by the decision of a tribunal, disputants can bypass courts entirely.
—The Economist, 31 Aug. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disputant
Noun
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The only other defendant in the case so far was Epstein’s associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving 20 years in prison.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
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What happens when mentally ill defendants can’t be prosecuted?—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The filing went on to say the plaintiffs demonstrated that criminal activity indeed takes place at the Eco Motel, and that the motel’s owners are aware of and tolerate that activity.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Feb. 2026
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After years of fighting Roundup cases in the US, Bayer still faces about 67,000 claims from plaintiffs who allege long-term exposure to glyphosate through Roundup caused their cancer.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Dylan Black, a SDA freshman who took the pilot course this year, said the class allowed students to learn more about each other and also become better debaters and thinkers.—
Karen Billing,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The fraud debaters offer many preferred litmus tests.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The fighters will use four-ounce gloves and will face off inside a hexagon cage.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
-
India already operates two squadrons of Rafale fighter jets and last year signed a deal to purchase 26 marine variants of the stealth fighter for the navy.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Then Jennings turned to the contestant to Betts’ right, Isaac Hirsch — who was wrong and did indeed bet everything, sending him to zero.—
Claire McNear,
Rolling Stone,
13 Feb. 2026
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For the Quick Draw Contest, contestants must sketch their artwork in 50 minutes.—
Claire Partain,
Houston Chronicle,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Environmental advocates have long fought for regulators to require oil and gas companies to plug these wells to protect nearby communities and the environment.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
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The administration's characterization has drawn intense concern from Second Amendment advocates, including the National Rifle Association.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disputant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disputant. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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