disputenoun [ C or U ]
uk/dɪˈspjuːt//ˈdɪs.pjuːt/us/dɪˈspjuːt//ˈdɪs.pjuːt/C2 an argument or disagreement, especially an official one between, for example, workers and employers or two countries with a common border:
a bitter/long-running dispute
a border dispute
a pay/legal/trade dispute
They have been unable to settle/resolve the dispute over working conditions.
The unions are in dispute with management over pay.
beyond (all) dispute
C2 certainly:
He is beyond all dispute the finest actor in Hollywood today.
in dispute
being doubted:
I don't think her ability is in dispute - what I question is her attitude.
open to dispute
not certain:
He says it's the best musical equipment you can buy, but I think that's open to dispute.
More examples
- All attempts at conciliation failed and the dispute continued.
- An outside adviser has been brought in to arbitrate the dispute between the management and the union.
- Management have demonstrated almost unbelievable incompetence in their handling of the dispute.
- I'd like to help but I don't have the power to intervene in this dispute.
- The chances of settling this dispute through talks seem increasingly slender.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Arguments & disagreements
- argument
- belligerent
- blow up
- bust up
- conflict
- confrontation
- contention
- counter-argument
- disharmony
- dissonance
- feud
- fracas
- Mexican standoff
- quibble
- rivalry
- row 1
- shindig
- slanging match
- trouble
- tussle
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Certainty
Suspecting & questioning
Uncertainty
disputeverb [ I or T ]
uk/dɪˈspjuːt/us/dɪˈspjuːt/C2 to disagree with something that someone says:
Few would dispute his status as the finest artist of the period.
The circumstances of her death have been hotly disputed.
[ + (that) ] I don't dispute (that) his movies are entertaining, but they don't have much depth.
More examples
- How can you be a Christian and dispute the divinity of Jesus?
- Several experts now dispute the usual attribution of the work to Leonardo.
- Are you disputing the judge's decision, madam?
- Many people would dispute that statement.
- I don't dispute her ability, but what I question is her attitude.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Suspecting & questioning
- call
- call into question idiom
- cynic
- doubter
- I'd like to see... idiom
- if
- misgiving
- niggle
- query
- question
- reservation
- sceptical
- self-doubt
- skeptic
- skeptical
- smell
- smell a rat idiom
- suspect
- suspiciously
- suss
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Denying & contradicting
disputation
noun [ C or U ] uk/ˌdɪs.pjuˈteɪ.ʃən/us/ˌdɪs.pjuːˈteɪ.ʃən/formal
a disagreement
disputatious
adjective uk/ˌdɪs.pjuˈteɪ.ʃəs/us/ˌdɪs.pjuːˈteɪ.ʃəs/old use
He's a disputatious young man (= he argues a lot).
disputed
adjective uk/dɪˈspjuː.tɪd/us/dɪˈspjuː.t̬ɪd/
a disputed border/goal
disputed territory