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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bickered
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 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
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in controversial
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of disputed
Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025
Experts say violence is on both sides Experts — including data analysts and political scientists — disputed this Republican rhetoric, according to previous reporting by McClatchy News.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
The company, which disputed the figure, is among the top humanoid robotic firms in China, vying with the US for global supremacy in the sector.
—Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2025
For instance, Goldman Sachs disputed the benchmark payroll revisions, saying the total reduction based on the firm’s proprietary model and high-frequency data is more like 550,000, or a bit lower than the year before.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
Three incompletions and a strip sack later, the Broncos had the win, after which Payton disputed any notion that going for it was a head-scratcher.
—Arnie Stapleton, Denver Post, 9 Sep. 2025
Scott Sandlin, the CEO of Sandlin Homes, disputed that.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2025
Dissenting voices Twelve months after Maduro’s disputed victory in the presidential election – a vote in which the government did not publish a final vote count, and which prompted a vast international outcry – the government’s repressive machinery continues.
—Andrew Raine, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Chicago Public Schools settled with two former Lincoln Park High School administrators last month, following a five-year legal battle that began after their 2020 firings based on claims that were eventually disputed.
—Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
However, in recent months, Williams has disputed the diagnoses in interviews.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025
Experts say violence is on both sides Experts — including data analysts and political scientists — disputed this Republican rhetoric, according to previous reporting by McClatchy News.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
The company, which disputed the figure, is among the top humanoid robotic firms in China, vying with the US for global supremacy in the sector.
—Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2025
For instance, Goldman Sachs disputed the benchmark payroll revisions, saying the total reduction based on the firm’s proprietary model and high-frequency data is more like 550,000, or a bit lower than the year before.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
Three incompletions and a strip sack later, the Broncos had the win, after which Payton disputed any notion that going for it was a head-scratcher.
—Arnie Stapleton, Denver Post, 9 Sep. 2025
Scott Sandlin, the CEO of Sandlin Homes, disputed that.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2025
Dissenting voices Twelve months after Maduro’s disputed victory in the presidential election – a vote in which the government did not publish a final vote count, and which prompted a vast international outcry – the government’s repressive machinery continues.
—Andrew Raine, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Chicago Public Schools settled with two former Lincoln Park High School administrators last month, following a five-year legal battle that began after their 2020 firings based on claims that were eventually disputed.
—Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disputed
Verb
-
As the probe unfolded, Kelly Dever was one of several low-rent Canton losers who couldn’t keep their stories straight when questioned by the feds.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
-
That person was questioned and later released, and so was another taken into custody later that day.—
Dalia Faheid,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
During the squabble, Darcey and Georgi bickered about the communication issues impacting their relationship, leaving Georgi’s parents Ginka and Ivan concerned about how healthy their son’s relationship was.—
Abigail Adams,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Skin category winners are probably the most difficult to choose and definitely the most hotly debated, but after months of thorough testing (and retesting), in the end, our editors came to a consensus on which cleansers, creams, peels, and spot treatments offer the most impressive results.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Afterward, three grown men debated which member of their clubhouse possesses the best version of a chin beard.—
Dennis Lin,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
As a public institution, UVU upholds First Amendment rights and fosters an environment where ideas – popular or controversial – can be exchanged freely, energetically, and civilly.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Despite her controversial inclusion at the event, Melnikova’s performances were met with robust cheers from the Parisian crowd.—
Caroline Price,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
LaFleur challenged a 37-yard pass to Malik Heath that was initially ruled incomplete.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Research conducted at Zvejnieki has often challenged longheld assumptions about gender roles in prehistoric Europe.—
Sarah Durn,
Popular Science,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In a court filing ahead of the settlement in the music label fight, IA had argued that labels had added an avalanche of infringing works so late into the lawsuit to create leverage to force a settlement.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Education Assembly Bill 715 was the only priority bill of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, aiming to address antisemitism in California public schools that authors have argued has become worse in recent years, as the war between Israel and Hamas continues in Gaza.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The future of this rapidly expanding means of devising software by tapping into the generative capabilities of modern-era AI, such as ChatGPT, Claude, Llama, Grok, Gemini, and other large language models, will be discussed.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Other than the online diary, Gendron reportedly received weapons tips in another Discord server where members mostly discussed guns and tactical gear.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
While Calvert-Lewin contested fewer duels (six), but won all of them, Muniz took on 15, winning eight and losing seven.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Vrabel also contested some of the flags thrown by first-year referee Alex Kemp’s crew.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disputed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disputed. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share