CONTESTATION Synonyms: 44 Similar and Opposite Words

contestation

noun

ˌkän-ˌte-ˈstā-shən

Definition of contestation

as in dispute

variance of opinion on a matter the statement is certainly open to contestation among reasonable people

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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 contestation That makes some of these contestations existential, particularly for smaller combatants. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 12 Jan. 2026 Indeed, the existence of avenues for contestation is in the very nature of competitive authoritarianism. — Steven Levitsky, Foreign Affairs, 11 Dec. 2025 The study spatializes the socio-cultural haunting of Indigenous and colonial histories and demonstrates how public spaces can be sites of democratic contestation and negotiation. — JSTOR Daily, 14 Nov. 2025 Many states with independent redistricting commissions, such as Idaho, have experienced high rates of non-contestation despite having drawn competitive districts. — Charlie Hunt, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contestation

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contestation

Noun

Herzog won a power struggle in the front office, then quit anyway, amid disputes with ownership.

— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
The court was established in 2001 and began functioning four years later as both an international court to settle disputes among Caribbean countries and as a final court of appeal.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026

Definition of dispute

Noun

Test your knowledge of cruise controversies, wedding whispers and more in this week's American Culture Quiz.

— Staff, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Williams’ decision to leave the position was a big surprise to the mayor, commissioners and residents, though her departure followed months of controversy and scrutiny.

— Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026

Definition of controversy

Noun

This did not, however, mark the end of disputation concerning the Northwest Angle.

— Scott Spires, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026
According to him, advances in machine learning have yanked questions once trapped inside theological/philosophical disputations into corporate board packs.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2025

Definition of disputation

Noun

Some states chose not to send representatives; several of them cited disagreements with the partisan mission.

— Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 3 July 2026
The city commission reached a major step forward on the project after months of delays and disagreements over the best way to replace the old City Hall, which was damaged beyond repair by the historic flooding of April 2023.

— Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026

Definition of disagreement

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contestants

contestation

contestations

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“Contestation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contestation. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of contestation

noun

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