1
as in questioning
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bickering
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 discussing
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 disputing
Reading these conversations feels like attending a party at which each new guest talks over the one before, disputing and undermining, gossiping and bringing into doubt the fundamental purpose of their coming together.
—
Joe Dunthorne, The New York Review of Books, 6 June 2026
Oral history is perhaps the only field where the sources talk back to the historian, confronting, disputing, disrupting, and sometimes resisting the historian’s understanding of the past (Frisch 1990; Shopes 2012).
—Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 3 June 2026
The new research challenges that conclusion — not by disputing Pymetrics’ math, but by arguing the company was asking the wrong question.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 26 May 2026
Many also prepare unfiled returns to bring you into compliance and represent you in disputing IRS penalties, audits or collection actions.
—John Csiszar, CNBC, 22 May 2026
But his father, Emmitt Mayo, and friend Billy Kirven, who witnessed the shooting, are disputing what police said.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 May 2026
The process can be frustrating, but filing reports, disputing fraudulent accounts, and following up with lenders, debt collectors, and credit bureaus can help limit the damage and restore your credit.
—Miranda Marquit, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 May 2026
There is no disputing the Padres should have done better — last night and many games before that.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2026
But Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is disputing what Patel said.
—Jericka Duncan, CBS News, 6 May 2026
Joe Dunthorne, The New York Review of Books, 6 June 2026
Oral history is perhaps the only field where the sources talk back to the historian, confronting, disputing, disrupting, and sometimes resisting the historian’s understanding of the past (Frisch 1990; Shopes 2012).
—Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 3 June 2026
The new research challenges that conclusion — not by disputing Pymetrics’ math, but by arguing the company was asking the wrong question.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 26 May 2026
Many also prepare unfiled returns to bring you into compliance and represent you in disputing IRS penalties, audits or collection actions.
—John Csiszar, CNBC, 22 May 2026
But his father, Emmitt Mayo, and friend Billy Kirven, who witnessed the shooting, are disputing what police said.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 May 2026
The process can be frustrating, but filing reports, disputing fraudulent accounts, and following up with lenders, debt collectors, and credit bureaus can help limit the damage and restore your credit.
—Miranda Marquit, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 May 2026
There is no disputing the Padres should have done better — last night and many games before that.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2026
But Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is disputing what Patel said.
—Jericka Duncan, CBS News, 6 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disputing
Verb
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Under prosecutors’ questioning, the witness agreed that his previous belief that Anthony was surrounded when the stabbing happened was incorrect.—
Suzanne Gamboa,
NBC news,
8 June 2026
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After questioning witnesses, detectives determined Williams had gotten into a domestic dispute with another person who was with Taylor, and Williams pulled out a semiautomatic rifle and fired multiple shots, shooting Taylor in the back.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
Verb
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The emotional distress may have stemmed from the family's extended trip together and bickering, his mother told USA TODAY on June 3.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
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While the concrete cured, the starting eight matches of the first-ever World Cup were relocated to Pocitos and Gran Parque Central, the home grounds of capital rivals Peñarol and Nacional, who'd been bickering since their first meeting in July 1900.—
Paul Jebara,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 May 2026
Verb
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The text messages in 2024 between Johnson and Duffey revealed that the two men used suggestive language while discussing women colleagues.—
Hema Sivanandam,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
Orange County leadership has already begun discussing how to respond to the rise in injuries, and I am encouraged by their willingness to engage this issue with seriousness and care.—
Myron Rolle,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 May 2026
Verb
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The need to find a new venue stemmed from Fox contesting Amazon’s right to stream a game that’s played in New York and involves a Big 10 team, because Fox’s contract with the Big 10 gives it broadcast rights to such games.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2026
-
Koltun filed a request with a federal judge in Texas contesting the demand.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Russia warns of major Kyiv attacks The Kremlin urged foreign diplomats to leave Kyiv, warning of a major forthcoming attack, with analysts arguing that Russia is losing momentum in its war on Ukraine.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
29 May 2026
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The men were arguing about a conflict that their children were having, the mother told the TV station.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
Verb
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The world is still debating whether this is a short-term disruption while farmers are already being forced to make decisions today that will have consequences next year.—
John W.H. Denton AO,
Fortune,
6 June 2026
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Regulators are debating whether the new data centers will strain the Texas power grid and affect electricity costs.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Verb
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And Mullin, a 48-year-old former Republican senator from Oklahoma and former mixed martial arts fighter, is also known for fiery exchanges with congressional committees, once challenging a Teamsters leader during a 2023 hearing.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
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Across the campus, 30 artists have created an array of site-specific permanent works on a scale that would even be challenging for a leading contemporary art institution.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Verb
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William Jennings Bryan stepped onto the podium on July 8, 1896, at the Democratic National Convention inside Chicago Coliseum at 63rd Street and Stony Island Avenue, and demonstrated that reformers could profit from working within the system instead of fighting it.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2026
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The big and heavy fights in the new trailer for gen ATLAS (shown below) really remind me of fighting various large enemies in Gigantic Drive.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disputing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disputing. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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