as in controversial
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bickered
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
3
as in debated
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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Recent Examples of disputed
Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
The Louisville Counter-Claim Here’s where the story gets genuinely interesting for anyone who loves a disputed first.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2026
There was violence after the disputed 2025 reelection of 92-year-old Cameroonian President Paul Biya, who first came to power in 1982.
—Mathew Schmalz, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2026
After Thompson’s testimony, Muscolino called witnesses, which included city workers, who testified against George’s claim to owning the disputed roadway.
—Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2026
The disputed ending of the AFCON tournament took another turn yesterday as Morocco was declared champions over Senegal, which was stripped of its title after walking off the pitch during the match.
—Tim Rohan, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
After the disputed 2009 presidential election, in which an apparent reformist victory was thwarted, the streets became the only outlet for dissent.
—Karl Vick, Time, 28 Feb. 2026
Late Thursday night the Taliban’s military launched attacks on Pakistani positions along some sections of their porous and disputed border that wends 1,600 miles through rugged mountains and desert.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
Unfortunately, after the disputed election of 1876, political support for Black voting rights collapsed, and Republicans withdrew military troops from the South.
—Jeffrey Rosen, The Atlantic, 16 Feb. 2026
Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 15 June 2026
Latourette's attorney argued that his client bought zip ties twice for Smith and had suggested withholding meals but disputed her actions caused the death of the boy.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
Pattie Gonia has disputed those assertions in online videos, but declined to comment further to Fortune, citing the pending litigation.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 15 June 2026
McAfee disputed his farm’s connection to many of the outbreaks, including this one.
—CNN Money, 14 June 2026
Some of Soto’s teammates disputed the notion that this Knicks run is providing them with extra motivation.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 13 June 2026
The Ipswich High School principal and the superintendent have disputed claims made by the parents of six lacrosse players who were suspended from their final game because of photos showing them with cigars.
—Mike Toole, CBS News, 12 June 2026
Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s attorney, sharply disputed Lively’s characterization of the ruling, arguing that the court’s prior decisions had substantially undercut many of her original claims.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Though the figure is sometimes disputed, The Or Foundation estimates that of the 15 million garments flowing into Kantamanto weekly, 40 percent exit as garbage in short order.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 8 June 2026
Adjective
Those choices will harden into the standard others copy, the way early card-network rules on chargebacks became the template for disputed payments.
—Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
The Louisville Counter-Claim Here’s where the story gets genuinely interesting for anyone who loves a disputed first.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2026
There was violence after the disputed 2025 reelection of 92-year-old Cameroonian President Paul Biya, who first came to power in 1982.
—Mathew Schmalz, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2026
After Thompson’s testimony, Muscolino called witnesses, which included city workers, who testified against George’s claim to owning the disputed roadway.
—Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2026
The disputed ending of the AFCON tournament took another turn yesterday as Morocco was declared champions over Senegal, which was stripped of its title after walking off the pitch during the match.
—Tim Rohan, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
After the disputed 2009 presidential election, in which an apparent reformist victory was thwarted, the streets became the only outlet for dissent.
—Karl Vick, Time, 28 Feb. 2026
Late Thursday night the Taliban’s military launched attacks on Pakistani positions along some sections of their porous and disputed border that wends 1,600 miles through rugged mountains and desert.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
Unfortunately, after the disputed election of 1876, political support for Black voting rights collapsed, and Republicans withdrew military troops from the South.
—Jeffrey Rosen, The Atlantic, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
The move is popular, with polls finding 74% support, although the evidence for both the mental health impacts of social media and the efficacy of bans is disputed.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 15 June 2026
Latourette's attorney argued that his client bought zip ties twice for Smith and had suggested withholding meals but disputed her actions caused the death of the boy.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
Pattie Gonia has disputed those assertions in online videos, but declined to comment further to Fortune, citing the pending litigation.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 15 June 2026
McAfee disputed his farm’s connection to many of the outbreaks, including this one.
—CNN Money, 14 June 2026
Some of Soto’s teammates disputed the notion that this Knicks run is providing them with extra motivation.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 13 June 2026
The Ipswich High School principal and the superintendent have disputed claims made by the parents of six lacrosse players who were suspended from their final game because of photos showing them with cigars.
—Mike Toole, CBS News, 12 June 2026
Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s attorney, sharply disputed Lively’s characterization of the ruling, arguing that the court’s prior decisions had substantially undercut many of her original claims.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Though the figure is sometimes disputed, The Or Foundation estimates that of the 15 million garments flowing into Kantamanto weekly, 40 percent exit as garbage in short order.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 8 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disputed
Adjective
-
Among them was a December 2024 lesson about Christmas that featured Zwarte Piet, or Black Pete, a controversial Dutch holiday character known as a helper to Santa Claus who is depicted with exaggerated, racist physical features — including large red lips.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
-
The Australian social media ban has been controversial, with American tech giants unsurprisingly reacting with alarm.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Bay Area schools were again at the forefront of a national debate over parental rights and LGBTQ+ issues Wednesday as Congressional Republicans questioned San Francisco’s schools chief on transgender student policies, ethnic studies and how much say parents should have over classroom instruction.—
Molly Gibbs,
Mercury News,
11 June 2026
-
During the test, Kourtney questioned Khloé about why True doesn't get to stay overnight at her house.—
Gina Kalsi,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
King bickered with fans on social media.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026
-
But Tilly and Gershon playfully bickered onstage as the former remembered things slightly differently, with Tilly saying the problem had more to do with a shot of her hand on Gershon's crotch that was deemed too realistic.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Fans debated score predictions, discussed players and shared hopes that Algeria could upset the defending world champions.—
J.M. Banks
June 15,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
-
After someone blew a hole in the Nord Stream Pipeline deep under the Baltic Sea in September 2022, the global media debated a geopolitical whodunnit.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
The first inconclusive election in February 2025 left the country without a functioning government for much of last year, forcing a second election in December.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
-
For now, Feaster says, the evidence that Georg Theodor Jacob Müller created some version of a phonograph remains intriguing, inconclusive—and elusive.—
Ron Cowen,
Scientific American,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Even after his death a decade later, his family kept pushing for a new hearing, which was repeatedly challenged by prosecutors in all three levels of court.—
Yumi Asada,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
-
Incumbent Jared Moskowitz, whose district was splintered by redistricting, is being challenged by progressive candidate Oliver Larkin in the August primary.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
It can’t really even be argued that this is a game unfolding between two adults.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
-
The defense argued that if jurors believe Anthony felt genuine terror and had no chance for calm reflection, then sudden passion applies, pointing to the video as evidence.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
The supervisors had discussed in March whether the money could be used to address pressing demands across the county, such as the multimillion-dollar liability from the Airport fire in 2024.—
Claire Wang,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
-
According to The Associated Press, prior to the meeting, the pope discussed his and the artist's overlapping schedules and who might dominate young people's attention between the two figures.—
Mason Leib,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disputed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disputed. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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