contention
noun
Synonyms
- argument
- assertion
- thesis
Example Sentences
New York Times, 13 Jan. 2002 The issues behind the protest are the usual bones of collective-bargaining contention: pay increases, vacation time, union membership. Louis Menand, New Yorker, 17 & 24 June 2002 Science, and academic scholarship in general, the contention these days goes, is too subjective. Some even allege it's entirely subjective, as is, they say, history. Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World, 1996 All quotes from QDB. That has been a source of contention for years. He is in contention for the Olympic medal. See More Niharika Sharma, Quartz, 15 Sep. 2022 Business has been very good for Cease, who is in contention for the American League Cy Young Award. Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 9 Sep. 2022 The teams met eight days ago at Dodger Stadium and the Dodgers took two out of three games from the Padres, who are in contention for a wild card berth with the Philadelphia Phillies. John Scheibe, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2022 There are only 24 games left to play and the Sox are out of contention for anything meaningful. Peter Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2022 But as far as Casagrande knows, only one film was taken out of contention for the award. NBC News, 6 Sep. 2022 As Variety reported, Lin was not the only individual in contention for the DC job, and initial reports of his commitment to taking on the role were perhaps overly enthusiastic given his ongoing commitment to Rideback. Brent Lang, Variety, 6 Sep. 2022 Bubba Wallace was switched to Busch’s No. 45, which is in contention for the owner’s title. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 4 Sep. 2022 Bubba Wallace was switched to Busch’s No. 45, which is in contention for the owners title. Pete Iacobelli, Orlando Sentinel, 3 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Middle English contencioun "dissension, dispute," borrowed from Anglo-French cuntençun, contencion, borrowed from Latin contentiōn-, contentiō "exertion, competition, conflict," from conten-, variant stem of contendere "to strain, make an effort, strive, compete" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at contend
Note: Regarding the variant -ten- with deverbal suffixes beginning in -t- (so contentiō rather than *contensiō), see the note at tender entry 3.
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Phrases Containing contention
Kids Definition
contention
noun
contention
noun
Synonyms & Similar Words
- argument
- assertion
- hypothesis
- theory
- thesis
- assumption
- guess
- speculation
- hunch
- proposition
- conjecture
- proposal
- rationale
- reason
- surmise
- position
- explanation
- presupposition
- case
- supposition
- stand
Synonyms & Similar Words
- rivalry
- competition
- battle
- struggle
- conflict
- duel
- confrontation
- war
- warfare
- match
- contest
- strife
- clash
- ball game
- dogfight
- combat
- debate
- showdown
- dispute
- argument
- tug-of-war
- sweep-stake
- grapple
- sweepstakes
- face-off
- disputation
- controversy
- quarrel
- disagreement
- friction
- discord
- collision
- horse race
- dissension
- row
- nail-biter
- dissention
- wrangle
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- harmony
- peace
- concord
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of contention are conflict, discord, dissension, strife, and variance. While all these words mean "a state or condition marked by a lack of agreement or harmony," contention applies to strife or competition that shows itself in quarreling, disputing, or controversy.
The synonyms conflict and contention are sometimes interchangeable, but conflict usually stresses the action of forces in opposition but in static applications implies an irreconcilability as of duties or desires.
In some situations, the words discord and contention are roughly equivalent. However, discord implies an intrinsic or essential lack of harmony producing quarreling, factiousness, or antagonism.
While in some cases nearly identical to contention, dissension implies strife or discord and stresses a division into factions.
The words strife and contention can be used in similar contexts, but strife emphasizes a struggle for superiority rather than the incongruity or incompatibility of the persons or things involved.
The meanings of variance and contention largely overlap; however, variance implies a clash between persons or things owing to a difference in nature, opinion, or interest.