DISPUTES Synonyms: 163 Similar and Opposite Words

disputes 1 of 2

noun

plural of dispute

as in controversies

variance of opinion on a matter a dispute over the proper pronunciation of "nuclear"

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as in disagreements

an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions after much dispute, the school committee decided that all backpacks would have to be stored in lockers during class hours

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disputes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of dispute

as in challenges

to demand proof of the truth or rightness of a whole slew of relatives eager to dispute his claim to being the sole heir

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as in bickers

to express different opinions about something often angrily hometown fans disputing with visiting fans over which had the better team

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in debates

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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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 disputes

Noun

This means the choice should be somebody who, for instance, isn’t going to sound off divisively about politics, get into messy domestic disputes or start going on public benders. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2026 The column warns that the disputes could extend beyond the election, potentially providing grounds to challenge results or undermine their legitimacy. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 Brokered by the United States, these talks that led to the signing of the Trilateral Framework in June 2026 call for the disarmament of Hezbollah, the Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese lands and the settlement of all disputes over borders. — Mireille Rebeiz, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2026 In fall, leaves from a neighboring tree can blanket your yard, and overgrown branches or falling limbs can lead to disputes between property owners. — Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026 In 2012, financial troubles effectively forced Belenenses to sell a controlling stake to an investment fund, and subsequent disputes between the club’s new owners and existing members led to a split. — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 22 Oct. 2026 Officials had disagreed over police overtime and a proposal to bar officers from using city vehicles for part-time work, but those disputes were not cited as the reason for the resignations. — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026 One estimate found that small businesses in the United States face 12 million lawsuits per year, with contract disputes averaging $91,000 in expenses. — Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026 Military force may alter the balance of pain without resolving the disputes each side will eventually have to confront across the negotiating table. — Ali Vaez, Time, 21 Oct. 2026

Verb

The Nevada Independent reports that Lombardo’s campaign has used those issues to question Ford’s fitness, while Ford says the clemency matter followed procedure and disputes the criticism. — Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026 Luger also disputes the ad's claim that Klobuchar did nothing on fraud. — Esme Murphy, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 Risley, however, disputes the idea that his collection contains objects that should to be repatriated. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 20 Oct. 2026 As Tripp Lite grew, Seid wrote checks to the Republican National Committee, ProPublica reported, and a longtime adviser described him as the Heartland Institute’s major patron, a Chicago-area think tank that disputes mainstream climate science. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026 ShinyHunters disputes portions of the FBI's description of its activities. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026 The Israeli military disputes the film’s account, and it is entitled to do so. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2026 But Kalkanis disputes the claim that Maldonado’s actions rise to the level of official misconduct due to a lack of state legislative clarity regarding Flock misuse. — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026 Morgan also disputes Spencer’s recollection of their phone call. — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disputes

Noun

What readers are saying The conversation explores the complexities and controversies surrounding a rancher's decision to sell shares of his cattle herd, which led to regulatory scrutiny.

— Abby ShalekBriski, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2026
The ad is made completely with AI and shows Shapiro touting his biggest controversies as governor.

— Josh Taylor, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of controversies

Noun

But deep disagreements over territory and security guarantees that re-emerged this week underscore obstacles to ending the war.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Both blame each other for the fiery fights, with Lago saying that disagreements between commissioners used to be more civil before Castro and Commissioner Ariel Fernandez were elected in 2023.

— Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of disagreements

Verb

But on Monday, Broadcom CEO Hock Tan likened many of the investors drawn to the AI boom to gamblers and questioned the economics of AI labs as Wall Street debates whether the AI bubble will burst.

— Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Co-star Tom Blyth will surely hold his own in Michael Arden’s production of a play that debates whether the rule of law in a democracy can fully protect us from a dangerous world.

— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of debates

Noun

This contestation takes place through philosophical debates, religious disputations, and public discussions, whether direct or indirect, open or clandestine.

— Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 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 disputations

Noun

The overtones of social significance are adroitly handled and make real sense in an era of tragic international quarrels.

— THR Staff, HollywoodReporter, 28 Sep. 2026
Unlike Christian priests and medicine men, who generally command respect, rainmakers are sometimes seen as malicious people who retaliate against whole communities for quarrels with their neighbors.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of quarrels

Verb

What Schrödinger wrote In his three-page manuscript, Schrondinger questions the restriction built into Whittaker’s reasoning and wonders why hidden variables had only two possible values.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
The ad, which attacks the Democratic gubernatorial candidate and questions her mental health, has widened Republican divisions as Ohio’s governor and Senate races tighten.

— Julie Carr Smyth, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of questions

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disputers

disputes

disputing

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Style

“Disputes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disputes. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of disputes

noun

verb

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