dispute
1 of 2verb
dis·pute di-ˈspyüt 
disputed; disputing
intransitive verb
: to engage in argument : debate
especially : to argue irritably or with irritating persistence
transitive verb
1
a
: to make the subject of verbal controversy or disputation
Legislators hotly disputed the bill.
b
: to call into question or cast doubt upon
Her honesty was never disputed.
The witness disputed the defendant's claim.
2
a
: to struggle against : oppose
disputed the advance of the invaders
b
: to contend over
disputing ownership of the land
disputable
di-ˈspyü-tə-bəl
adjective ˈdi-spyə-
disputably
di-ˈspyü-tə-blē
adverb ˈdi-spyə-
disputer noun
dispute
2 of 2noun
dis·pute di-ˈspyüt ˈdi-ˌspyüt
ˈdi-ˌspyüt 1
a
: verbal controversy : debate
a dispute about what to do with the surplus
a landlord-tenant dispute
legal disputes
The matter is still in dispute.
b
: quarrel
Police were called to a domestic dispute.
2
obsolete : physical combat
Synonyms
Verb
- challenge
- contest
- impeach
- oppugn
- query
- question
Noun
- contestation
- controversy
- debate
- difference
- difficulty
- disagreement
- disputation
- dissension
- dissention
- dissensus
- firestorm
- nonconcurrence
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb You can dispute your bill if you believe it is inaccurate. These estimates are hotly disputed by scientists. No one ever disputed that it was the right decision. The source of the text has been disputed for centuries. a part of the city where two drug gangs are disputing territory Noun They could not settle their dispute. There is a labor dispute between workers and management. The two farmers are involved in a land dispute. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
John Raby, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 Etowah County prosecutors dispute those claims, but neither a judge nor a jury has had an opportunity to examine the evidence. al, 7 Sep. 2022 Some planetary experts dispute the 2006 vote, saying the definitions are arbitrary. Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 31 Aug. 2022 Many legal experts dispute that, saying the president’s broad declassification powers need to follow a process that records the declassification of documents. Vivian Salama, WSJ, 21 Aug. 2022 But others, including some in the Muslim community in New Mexico, dispute that sectarian hatred played a role. Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 20 Aug. 2022 Maharaj, Duvoisin and Doig vehemently dispute the accuracy of Pringle’s account. Cara Fitzpatrick, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2022 Both Haynes and Tisdale strongly dispute this characterization. Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 22 July 2022 Corrales’ parents and their attorneys dispute that assertion, saying Corrales had an arrangement with the owner and had been driving the vehicle for months. Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2022 Kimberley A. Strassel, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 The dispute is one of the first to arise in the cases of former detectives Jaynes, Sgt. Andrew Wolfson, The Courier-Journal, 7 Sep. 2022 The dispute is the latest example of how Texas’ unprecedented challenge to the federal government’s authority on the border has created a clash among agencies working at cross purposes. Acacia Coronado, Chron, 2 Sep. 2022 The dispute is, in some ways, a philosophical question about fair pay among the workforce. Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2022 The dispute over its release is the latest fallout from the Aug. 8 search, which culminated in FBI agents carting away 11 sets of classified documents in about 20 boxes. Erik Larson, Bloomberg.com, 17 Aug. 2022 The dispute was on track to end early next month because the promotional list from the 2019 test expires Sept. 2. Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2022 The dispute was close enough to the field that Moore was able to take action. Ryan Morik, Fox News, 12 Aug. 2022 But President Biden assumed the presidency while the dispute was pending, and Neal renewed his request for five years of income tax returns from Trump and his businesses beginning in 2015. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2022 See More
Verb
Witnesses also dispute the U.S. Marshals' assertion that first aid was performed right away, before emergency medical services arrived. John Raby, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 Etowah County prosecutors dispute those claims, but neither a judge nor a jury has had an opportunity to examine the evidence. al, 7 Sep. 2022 Some planetary experts dispute the 2006 vote, saying the definitions are arbitrary. Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 31 Aug. 2022 Many legal experts dispute that, saying the president’s broad declassification powers need to follow a process that records the declassification of documents. Vivian Salama, WSJ, 21 Aug. 2022 But others, including some in the Muslim community in New Mexico, dispute that sectarian hatred played a role. Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 20 Aug. 2022 Maharaj, Duvoisin and Doig vehemently dispute the accuracy of Pringle’s account. Cara Fitzpatrick, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2022 Both Haynes and Tisdale strongly dispute this characterization. Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 22 July 2022 Corrales’ parents and their attorneys dispute that assertion, saying Corrales had an arrangement with the owner and had been driving the vehicle for months. Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2022 Noun
The dispute is over a new contract, though many parents see it as the latest in a series of rolling closures. Kimberley A. Strassel, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 The dispute is one of the first to arise in the cases of former detectives Jaynes, Sgt. Andrew Wolfson, The Courier-Journal, 7 Sep. 2022 The dispute is the latest example of how Texas’ unprecedented challenge to the federal government’s authority on the border has created a clash among agencies working at cross purposes. Acacia Coronado, Chron, 2 Sep. 2022 The dispute is, in some ways, a philosophical question about fair pay among the workforce. Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2022 The dispute over its release is the latest fallout from the Aug. 8 search, which culminated in FBI agents carting away 11 sets of classified documents in about 20 boxes. Erik Larson, Bloomberg.com, 17 Aug. 2022 The dispute was on track to end early next month because the promotional list from the 2019 test expires Sept. 2. Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2022 The dispute was close enough to the field that Moore was able to take action. Ryan Morik, Fox News, 12 Aug. 2022 But President Biden assumed the presidency while the dispute was pending, and Neal renewed his request for five years of income tax returns from Trump and his businesses beginning in 2015. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun
Middle English, from Anglo-French desputer, from Latin disputare to discuss, from dis- + putare to think
First Known Use
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Noun
1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing dispute
Kids Definition
dispute 1 of 2
verb
dis·pute di-ˈspyüt
disputed; disputing
1
: to question or deny the truth or rightness of
No one ever disputed the story.
2
: argue sense 1
The boys disputed over who won the race.
3
: to fight over
The two nations disputed the territory.
dispute
2 of 2noun
1
: debate entry 1 sense 3
It is a fact beyond dispute.
2
: quarrel entry 1 sense 1
Legal Definition
dispute 1 of 2
verb
dis·pute di-ˈspyüt
disputed; disputing
intransitive verb
: to engage in a dispute
disputing with management over contract terms
transitive verb
: to engage in a dispute over
disputing the correct application of the contract provision
especially : to oppose by argument or assertion
disputed changes to the grievance procedure
dispute
2 of 2noun
: an assertion of opposing views or claims : a disagreement as to rights
especially : one that is the subject of proceedings for resolution (as arbitration)
disputed 1 of 2
adjective
as in debated
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- debated
- controversial
- inconclusive
- refutable
- disputable
- problematic
- uncertain
- debatable
- arguable
- iffy
- moot
- problematical
- speculative
- contradictable
- shaky
- questionable
- dubious
- ambiguous
- hypothetical
- controvertible
- negotiable
- indecisive
- doubtful
- theoretical
- issuable
- doubtable
- theoretic
- academic
- equivocal
- academical
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- indisputable
- settled
- certain
- incontestable
- incontrovertible
- undebatable
- sure
- positive
- unquestionable
- unanswerable
- undeniable
- indubitable
- irrefragable
- unarguable
- unchallengeable
- inarguable
- irrefutable
- accomplished
- definite
- questionless
- conclusive
- undisputed
- unequivocal
- decisive
- unambiguous
- uncontested
- clear
- hands-down
- absolute
disputed
2 of 2verb
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
- contested
- challenged
- doubted
- protested
- queried
- impeached
- oppugned
- mistrusted
- called in question
- called into question
- opposed
- resisted
- fought
- combated
- combatted
- kicked (about)
- objected (to)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- believed
- accepted
- defended
- embraced
- supported
- swallowed
- backed
- advocated
- promoted
- championed
- tolerated
- endured
- abided
- stomached
- abode
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
- quarrelled
- quibbled
- squabbled
- brawled
- wrangled
- contested
- discussed
- scrapped
- rowed
- fell out
- locked horns
- altercated
- spatted
- hassled
- argufied
- jarred
- butted heads
- tiffed
- contended
- brabbled
- challenged
- bandied words
- mixed it up
- protested
- objected
- dared
- tangled
- nitpicked
- caviled
- defied
- fussed
- considered
- kicked
- cavilled
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- agreed
- coexisted
- accepted
- concurred
- consented
- assented
- got along
3
as in discussed
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
- canvased
- propounded
- hashed (over or out)
- broached
- weighed
- batted (around or back and forth)
- introduced
- forged
- stirred up
- talked out
- deliberated
- hammered out
- spoke (about)
- chewed over
- talked (about)
- thrashed (out)
- wrestled (with)