1
as in controversy
variance of opinion on a matter
a dispute over the proper pronunciation of "nuclear"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in quarrel
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
after much dispute, the school committee decided that all backpacks would have to be stored in lockers during class hours
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to question
to demand proof of the truth or rightness of
a whole slew of relatives eager to dispute his claim to being the sole heir
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to bicker
to express different opinions about something often angrily
hometown fans disputing with visiting fans over which had the better team
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to debate
to talk about (an issue) usually from various points of view and for the purpose of arriving at a decision or opinion
in an extended session the city council disputed the need for a new high school
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dispute
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 May 2026
Police were responding to a domestic dispute in Queens when an explosion suddenly erupted, sending officers flying.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Anna Clark, ProPublica, 24 Apr. 2026
The State's Attorney's Office also disputed claims law enforcement in Illinois has violated the Trust Act, which prohibits state law enforcement from assisting with immigration enforcement.
—Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dispute
Noun
The push comes after a dispute with Anthropic over usage limits.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 May 2026
Police were responding to a domestic dispute in Queens when an explosion suddenly erupted, sending officers flying.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Verb
Hepting, who has since retired from her post at the county, disputed Simasko’s depiction of her motivations in a message to ProPublica.
—Anna Clark, ProPublica, 24 Apr. 2026
The State's Attorney's Office also disputed claims law enforcement in Illinois has violated the Trust Act, which prohibits state law enforcement from assisting with immigration enforcement.
—Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dispute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispute
Noun
-
The new controversy comes at a moment when the region is already grappling with internal divisions.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Branca's tenure, however, hasn't been without controversy.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As the quarrel turned physical, the woman pushed Smith to the ground, witnesses told police.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
What followed was a benches-clearing quarrel between Miller, Sal Stewart and their respective teams, the dramatic conclusion to a two-day saga between the Giants and Reds featuring beanballs, cuss words and aggressive gesticulation.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
With the third-year pro also coming off a subpar 2025 campaign, Wells’ offensive capabilities have been the subject of questioning in recent weeks and months.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The Republican has built a reputation in part due to his willingness to question the federal government’s role in releasing classified information.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Rollins and Breakker bickered over who was responsible for Breakker’s success.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The two get to bickering about her terrible track record, with Dennis hilariously failing to realize that this accusation includes him among the questionable men.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Idaho lawmakers spent hours debating a surge in rodents menacing Boise-area gardens and kitchens and threatening agriculture and public health.—
Karin Brulliard,
Washington Post,
25 Apr. 2026
-
While city leaders debated how to restructure the system, LAHSA employees said the uncertainty is already taking a toll.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This did not, however, mark the end of disputation concerning the Northwest Angle.—
Scott Spires,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
19 Mar. 2026
-
According to him, advances in machine learning have yanked questions once trapped inside theological/philosophical disputations into corporate board packs.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
At 20, he was arrested after a routine traffic stop turned into a violent altercation with police.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The altercation between Avdija and Castle put an end to a frustrating day for the Trail Blazers, who lost Game 4 by 21 points after holding a 17-point lead at halftime.—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Meeting a partner’s family can be challenging in any circumstance; anxieties about a family member saying something rude or belittling can only compound that.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
The case challenged Louisiana’s congressional map, which included two majority-Black districts out of six in a state where about one-third of the population is Black.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dispute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispute. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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