Synonyms of disputed

disputed 1 of 2

adjective

as in controversial

Related Words

• controversial
• debated
• inconclusive
• uncertain
• problematic
• disputable
• debatable
• refutable
• arguable
• moot
• speculative
• shaky
• contradictable
• questionable
• iffy
• dubious
• hypothetical
• ambiguous
• negotiable
• indecisive
• theoretical
• doubtful
• controvertible
• issuable
• academic
• doubtable
• equivocal

Dissimilar Words

• certain
• indisputable
• settled
• incontestable
• positive
• sure
• incontrovertible
• unquestionable
• undeniable
• unanswerable
• indubitable
• accomplished
• irrefragable
• unchallengeable
• unarguable
• irrefutable
• definite
• undebatable
• inarguable
• unequivocal
• conclusive
• questionless
• unambiguous
• decisive
• clear
• undisputed
• hands-down
• uncontested
• absolute

disputed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of dispute

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

• questioned
• challenged
• contested
• doubted
• queried
• protested
• impeached
• called in question
• oppugned
• opposed
• kicked (about)
• mistrusted
• resisted
• fought
• objected (to)
• combated

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• believed
• accepted
• embraced
• defended
• swallowed
• supported
• backed
• advocated
• promoted
• championed
• tolerated
• endured
• abided
• stomached

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

• bickered
• argued
• fought
• quarreled
• clashed
• controverted
• debated
• squabbled
• quibbled
• brawled
• wrangled
• contested
• scrapped
• rowed
• discussed
• fell out
• locked horns
• jarred
• hassled
• butted heads
• altercated
• argufied
• tiffed
• mixed it up
• contended
• spatted
• brabbled
• challenged
• bandied words
• protested
• dared
• objected
• tangled
• defied
• nitpicked
• fussed
• considered
• kicked
• caviled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• agreed
• accepted
• concurred
• consented
• coexisted
• got along
• assented

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

• debated
• discussed
• argued
• reviewed
• canvassed
• mooted
• agitated
• bandied
• talked over
• raised
• considered
• spoke (about)
• hashed (over or out)
• batted (around or back and forth)
• propounded
• talked (about)
• introduced
• weighed
• broached
• stirred up
• forged
• thrashed (out)
• hammered out
• deliberated
• wrestled (with)
• talked out
• chewed over

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of disputed

Adjective

In one of the latest incidents, the Philippine military in July accused China's coast guard of injuring a Filipino sailor at a disputed shoal in the South China Sea. — ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026

Completion targets remain disputed Project chief engineer Xi Jihong said the railway could be ready for operations by June 2031. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026

Seven more calls were successfully challenged before the final out, with only two of the eight disputed pitches initially ruled strikes. — Chantz Martin Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026

The enlistment card said Weber was from Alsace-Lorraine, a disputed area between France and Germany, which may explain the two spellings of his surname. — Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 14 Aug. 2026

Ask whether the methodology is published in enough detail to reproduce, and who arbitrates a disputed grade. — Janakiram Msv, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026

The investigation began nearly two months after Sessions supplemented his disputed testimony and was initially based on a letter from two Democratic senators. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 10 Aug. 2026

The British military maritime operations center said a tanker was attacked Tuesday in the disputed area. — Jane Arraf, NPR, 22 July 2026

For years, Washington refused to recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president after his disputed 2018 reelection and instead recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the country’s interim president. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026

Verb

In the comments of that post, Marc D’Amelio disputed the claim. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026

When approached for comment by The Athletic, DHS disputed Pourrain’s claims about the facility’s conditions. — Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Her claim was immediately disputed, debunked, de-debunked, de3-bunked, and ultimately litigated, with experts and expert neural networks testifying and offering evidence on all sides. — Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026

The university disputed the findings, saying its admissions process complies with the law. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 9 Sep. 2026

Israel argues that the territory is disputed rather than occupied, and asserts that Jews have a historical right to the land. — Reuters, NBC news, 8 Sep. 2026

The overall effectiveness of third-party turnaround organizations has been highly disputed across the country. — Samuel O’Neal 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2026

McCuskey disputed that characterization in a follow-up statement included with Benton's report. — Ben Szalinski, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

But the president disputed this foundational concept in monetary policy. — Josh Boak, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026