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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of dispute
Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2026
The dispute eventually widened beyond just money.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Barry Hoffner, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
In an internal memo written Tuesday and obtained by the Tribune, King detailed her rationale to the board — and disputed CTU’s claim that her decision would violate its contract with the district.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dispute
Noun
Officers responded to a 911 call and were informed of a verbal dispute that escalated into a physical altercation, the department told Footwear News.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2026
The dispute eventually widened beyond just money.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
Not to dispute what is happening, but to remember what exists alongside it.
—Barry Hoffner, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
In an internal memo written Tuesday and obtained by the Tribune, King detailed her rationale to the board — and disputed CTU’s claim that her decision would violate its contract with the district.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dispute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispute
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
-
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
Verb
-
Don't hurt me … Terry Rose was immediately transported to the police department where Wilson and Tamayo were waiting to question him.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Butler said on Friday that police were questioning Brian Hooker on a potential charge of causing harm resulting in death.—
Adam Sabes , Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At the time of the invite, Congress was furiously bickering over a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill, as Democrats refused to allocate funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Pointing to elk heads mounted on the wall, the two jokingly bickered over who had bowhunted which.—
Jessica Mathews,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Policy experts have begun to debate whether the act applies to negotiations beyond free broadcast TV distribution.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Curriculum debates crop up occasionally.—
Heather Hollingsworth,
Los Angeles Times,
10 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
-
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
-
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
Verb
-
The very player challenging the legitimacy of their playoff series win on a recent podcast stream with his teammate Jordan Walsh.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
In the latest California shooting, Patrick Kolsasinksi, an attorney representing Hernandez’s family, has challenged Lyon’s claim that his client was a dangerous gang member.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dispute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispute. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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