as in challenged
to demand proof of the truth or rightness of
vowed to contest the claim in court
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Recent Examples of contested
Aryna Sabalenka curbed her natural instincts to beat Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6(3) in an absorbing women’s final, before Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner contested their third Grand Slam final in a row — a record in the Open Era of men’s tennis.
—
The Athletic Tennis Staff, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Zach Top will compete against Langley for new artist of the year, a category that will be hotly contested this year.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 8 Sep. 2025
All scenes in the classroom are enhanced by the presence of the hilarious deadpan of Martha Kelly as a professor in the midst of a toxic divorce with her ex-wife where the ownership of both an air fryer and a dog are being contested.
—Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
The bills can still be challenged at the Constitutional Court, and one of the packages, which gradually raises the retirement age for judges and prosecutors, has already been contested by the judiciary.
—Luiza Ilie, Reuters, 7 Sep. 2025
First contested in 1922, this is the 50th time the best male amateur golfers from the United States will compete against their counterparts from Great Britain & Ireland in a competition named for the former president’s great-grandfather.
—Lee Ross, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025
At the same time, identity categories have become more fluid, and traditional sources of authority — religion, education, government — are more likely to be contested or distrusted.
—Christopher P. Scheitle, The Conversation, 5 Sep. 2025
Ernst’s decision to forgo a third term leaves an open seat that could become hotly contested as Democrats try to retake the majority in the upper chamber.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 2 Sep. 2025
Maintaining the support of voters, therefore, will be important given Senate and House seats will be contested in the state in the upcoming midterm elections.
—Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
The Athletic Tennis Staff, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Zach Top will compete against Langley for new artist of the year, a category that will be hotly contested this year.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 8 Sep. 2025
All scenes in the classroom are enhanced by the presence of the hilarious deadpan of Martha Kelly as a professor in the midst of a toxic divorce with her ex-wife where the ownership of both an air fryer and a dog are being contested.
—Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
The bills can still be challenged at the Constitutional Court, and one of the packages, which gradually raises the retirement age for judges and prosecutors, has already been contested by the judiciary.
—Luiza Ilie, Reuters, 7 Sep. 2025
First contested in 1922, this is the 50th time the best male amateur golfers from the United States will compete against their counterparts from Great Britain & Ireland in a competition named for the former president’s great-grandfather.
—Lee Ross, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025
At the same time, identity categories have become more fluid, and traditional sources of authority — religion, education, government — are more likely to be contested or distrusted.
—Christopher P. Scheitle, The Conversation, 5 Sep. 2025
Ernst’s decision to forgo a third term leaves an open seat that could become hotly contested as Democrats try to retake the majority in the upper chamber.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 2 Sep. 2025
Maintaining the support of voters, therefore, will be important given Senate and House seats will be contested in the state in the upcoming midterm elections.
—Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contested
Verb
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LaFleur challenged a 37-yard pass to Malik Heath that was initially ruled incomplete.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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Research conducted at Zvejnieki has often challenged longheld assumptions about gender roles in prehistoric Europe.—
Sarah Durn,
Popular Science,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As the probe unfolded, Kelly Dever was one of several low-rent Canton losers who couldn’t keep their stories straight when questioned by the feds.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
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That person was questioned and later released, and so was another taken into custody later that day.—
Dalia Faheid,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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However, in recent months, Williams has disputed the diagnoses in interviews.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
15 Sep. 2025
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Experts say violence is on both sides Experts — including data analysts and political scientists — disputed this Republican rhetoric, according to previous reporting by McClatchy News.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contested.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contested. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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