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

His political history includes a disputed 2018 congressional election that was never certified after investigators uncovered an absentee-ballot fraud operation involving a political operative hired by his campaign. — Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026

Election officials can use the timing marks and barcodes printed around ballots to identify the different ballot styles and determine which ballots contain the disputed 7A question. — Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

The protests follow a disputed election and government crackdown that drove Machado and other opposition leaders into hiding. — Clyburn Saint John, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026

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

Verb

Vellesiya Wiley has disputed that her friend, who was driving, headed toward the officers. — Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

South African authorities have disputed some of those claims and said some deaths were related to criminal activity and not the protests. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026

The court records also show that the family lived in a tent, which Arthur disputed in the ad. — Caroline Linton, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Erika Donalds disputed the allegation that her nonprofit had mismanaged an audit at the Jacksonville schools and said the other schools’ partnerships with her foundation were always meant to be temporary. — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026

Proposals include limiting justices’ active service through legislation—an approach whose constitutionality is disputed—or through a constitutional amendment. — Connor Greene, Time, 21 Oct. 2026

Hall disputed ProPublica’s reporting about the emergency response but declined to comment with specifics. — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026

In late September 2026, political commentator David Pakman disputed Melania’s understanding of her husband’s job. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 21 Oct. 2026

No agents died in the real-life incident, and whether Good’s car ever posed a threat to her killer, Jonathan Ross, remains widely disputed. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026