as in controversial
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1
as in questioned
to demand proof of the truth or rightness of
a whole slew of relatives eager to dispute his claim to being the sole heir
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2
as in bickered
to express different opinions about something often angrily
hometown fans disputing with visiting fans over which had the better team
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3
as in debated
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
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Recent Examples of disputed
Mathew Schmalz, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2026
After Thompson’s testimony, Muscolino called witnesses, which included city workers, who testified against George’s claim to owning the disputed roadway.
—Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2026
The disputed ending of the AFCON tournament took another turn yesterday as Morocco was declared champions over Senegal, which was stripped of its title after walking off the pitch during the match.
—Tim Rohan, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
One of the most disputed moments of North Carolina history centers on whether a Nazi U-boat attacked a chemical plant near Kure Beach during World War II.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 9 Mar. 2026
After the disputed 2009 presidential election, in which an apparent reformist victory was thwarted, the streets became the only outlet for dissent.
—Karl Vick, Time, 28 Feb. 2026
Late Thursday night the Taliban’s military launched attacks on Pakistani positions along some sections of their porous and disputed border that wends 1,600 miles through rugged mountains and desert.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
Unfortunately, after the disputed election of 1876, political support for Black voting rights collapsed, and Republicans withdrew military troops from the South.
—Jeffrey Rosen, The Atlantic, 16 Feb. 2026
City Council documents said the disputed portion of the property falls completely outside Willow Park’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Jan. 2026
Richard Ramos, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
The legality of the raid is being disputed in court, and there has not been any evidence of voter fraud in the 2020 election.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
The school board disputed the claims in court records and moved to dismiss the lawsuit.
—Aliyya Swaby, ProPublica, 10 Apr. 2026
Kolasinski disputed those claims.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 9 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
Advertisement The White House on Wednesday disputed reports that Iran had closed the Strait just hours into the cease-fire in response to Israel’s strikes against Hezbollah.
—Tiago Ventura, Time, 9 Apr. 2026
However, aviation analysts quickly disputed that assessment.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Apr. 2026
Thai Union disputed those claims during the bankruptcy.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
There was violence after the disputed 2025 reelection of 92-year-old Cameroonian President Paul Biya, who first came to power in 1982.
—Mathew Schmalz, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2026
After Thompson’s testimony, Muscolino called witnesses, which included city workers, who testified against George’s claim to owning the disputed roadway.
—Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2026
The disputed ending of the AFCON tournament took another turn yesterday as Morocco was declared champions over Senegal, which was stripped of its title after walking off the pitch during the match.
—Tim Rohan, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
One of the most disputed moments of North Carolina history centers on whether a Nazi U-boat attacked a chemical plant near Kure Beach during World War II.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 9 Mar. 2026
After the disputed 2009 presidential election, in which an apparent reformist victory was thwarted, the streets became the only outlet for dissent.
—Karl Vick, Time, 28 Feb. 2026
Late Thursday night the Taliban’s military launched attacks on Pakistani positions along some sections of their porous and disputed border that wends 1,600 miles through rugged mountains and desert.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
Unfortunately, after the disputed election of 1876, political support for Black voting rights collapsed, and Republicans withdrew military troops from the South.
—Jeffrey Rosen, The Atlantic, 16 Feb. 2026
City Council documents said the disputed portion of the property falls completely outside Willow Park’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
But Kolasinski has disputed that, pointing to court records from El Salvador that show Hernandez was previously acquitted of a homicide charge.
—Richard Ramos, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
The legality of the raid is being disputed in court, and there has not been any evidence of voter fraud in the 2020 election.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
The school board disputed the claims in court records and moved to dismiss the lawsuit.
—Aliyya Swaby, ProPublica, 10 Apr. 2026
Kolasinski disputed those claims.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 9 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
Advertisement The White House on Wednesday disputed reports that Iran had closed the Strait just hours into the cease-fire in response to Israel’s strikes against Hezbollah.
—Tiago Ventura, Time, 9 Apr. 2026
However, aviation analysts quickly disputed that assessment.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Apr. 2026
Thai Union disputed those claims during the bankruptcy.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disputed
Adjective
-
Hulu American Psycho (2000) Bret Easton Ellis’ 1991 best-seller looks unrecognizable in Mary Harron’s cinematic adaptation of the controversial novel.—
Debby Wolfinsohn,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Apr. 2026
-
In Wang’s recollection, Dhillon suggested that the press had chosen to focus on the division’s more controversial projects rather than its nonpartisan cases.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Animal rights activists questioned whether the wolf could survive outside the zoo and also worried it might be killed during capture, something that happened to a puma that escaped from the same zoo in 2018.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The teen’s parents later questioned how her abuser was able to continue working with children following his arrest.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The pair have famously bickered over the past 20 years.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
14 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
-
But those plans were set aside last year while the future of the ISS was debated, and Sierra Space announced a pivot to national defense and security applications in orbit.—
Tom Metcalfe,
Scientific American,
13 Apr. 2026
-
While the issue of who is to pay is debated, the homeowner is left to wait and suffer.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Both played a key role in bringing the two sides together, were present at varying times throughout the 21 hours of inconclusive talks, and have been working intensely to move the process forward.—
Imtiaz Tyab,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
-
But many Israelis are likely to be disappointed by yet another inconclusive war, which could weigh on Netanyahu ahead of elections later this year.—
Jon Gambrell,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Elsewhere, in Hartford, Connecticut, PLF challenged a decades-old desegregation settlement that prevented racial and ethnic minority kids from attending high-quality magnet schools in their own neighborhood.—
Alison Somin,
Oc Register,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Grimsley says his congregation has been challenged and endured a series of setbacks.—
Ryan Hughes,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Don Weilhammer said that the preliminary investigation found that the argument and subsequent shooting began after the two involved allegedly argued over Pokémon cards, Fox 59 reported.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Yee argued California is ready for a change in leadership.—
Steve Large,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The White House visitors' center was discussed at the March meeting.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Splitting the cost is definitely something that should have been discussed before.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disputed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disputed. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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