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
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
City Council documents said the disputed portion of the property falls completely outside Willow Park’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Jan. 2026
Christopher Cann, USA Today, 5 May 2026
The story of how the Declaration of Independence came to be written has been told many times but remains disputed, if not hotly, then lukewarmly.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
But financial advisors disputed that characterization, saying $465,000 wouldn't necessarily qualify someone as being wealthy in retirement — especially when that nest egg might have to be spread over roughly two or three decades.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 4 May 2026
Other cases where maps were being disputed, and this court decision now comes into play.
—NBC news, 3 May 2026
Federal officials have disputed reports that the shot that struck the agent was friendly fire.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 3 May 2026
In court filings, Justice Department attorneys have generally disputed accusations the government was not complying.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
Advertisement Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy disputed that Spirit’s closure could be pinned on the Iran war in a news conference Saturday.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 2 May 2026
Kolasinski has disputed this allegation, saying that his client was not a gang member and that, while Hernández had been accused of murder in El Salvador, he was acquitted of any charges pertaining to that case.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
Adjective
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
City Council documents said the disputed portion of the property falls completely outside Willow Park’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
Iranian officials disputed those claims.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 5 May 2026
The story of how the Declaration of Independence came to be written has been told many times but remains disputed, if not hotly, then lukewarmly.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
But financial advisors disputed that characterization, saying $465,000 wouldn't necessarily qualify someone as being wealthy in retirement — especially when that nest egg might have to be spread over roughly two or three decades.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 4 May 2026
Other cases where maps were being disputed, and this court decision now comes into play.
—NBC news, 3 May 2026
Federal officials have disputed reports that the shot that struck the agent was friendly fire.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 3 May 2026
In court filings, Justice Department attorneys have generally disputed accusations the government was not complying.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
Advertisement Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy disputed that Spirit’s closure could be pinned on the Iran war in a news conference Saturday.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 2 May 2026
Kolasinski has disputed this allegation, saying that his client was not a gang member and that, while Hernández had been accused of murder in El Salvador, he was acquitted of any charges pertaining to that case.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disputed
Adjective
-
Two postseasons ago, Joel Embiid rankled Knicks fans during a hyper-testy first-round series in which the Philadelphia 76ers star engaged in multiple controversial plays — none bigger than him pulling Mitchell Robinson to the ground.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
4 May 2026
-
Prior attempts to update the 2024 law have been some of the most controversial efforts in the legislature, leading to high drama at both the end of the 2025 regular session and earning a place in the governor’s call for a special session last summer.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
School Committee members extensively questioned the policy Wednesday, digging into how the success of the new guardrails would be monitored, how equity would be ensured across groups like multilingual learners and students with less technological resources and more.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
7 May 2026
-
Less than a week after that announcement, DIA put plans to commission a feasibility study on hold after Denver City Councilwoman Stacie Gilmore questioned why the airport didn’t first consult the community and residents around DIA.—
John Aguilar,
Denver Post,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
The video went viral, and the two eventually bickered about it on social media later Sunday night.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
-
My parents bickered constantly, my sister was demanding and always in a conflict with them, and my grandparents would scream at each other.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
The family debated which direction the teenager would go in his career.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
4 May 2026
-
Any remedy to that is worthy of at least being considered or debated.—
Linh Tat,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
While the latest wars against Iran and Hezbollah were widely supported, the inconclusive outcomes have left many Israelis feeling fatigued and disappointed.—
Julia Frankel,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Studies are inconclusive, but some research suggests tart cherry juice might help with managing blood pressure.—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In a 6-3 decision along ideological lines, the justices sided with plaintiffs in a Louisiana case that challenged if the state's congressional maps relied too heavily on race to sort voters.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
-
Adger also allegedly threatened to kill officers and challenged them to fight, deputies said in reports citing a Sacramento police probable cause warrant.—
Darrell Smith
May 1,
Sacbee.com,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Both France and Padres manager Craig Stammen argued the call and replays seemed to clearly show the base of the ball was entirely in foul ground.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The trust has said that recognizes the need for a larger meeting space at the White House, but argued that only Congress could authorize it.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The three candidates discussed affordability, public safety and more.—
Paris Barraza,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
-
The governor’s decision to off-ramp — a standard provision included in progressive design-build contracts when a price for construction cannot be reached — is the responsible choice for Maryland and consistent with what Moore and I discussed in our first conversations those months ago.—
Katie Thomson,
Baltimore Sun,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disputed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disputed. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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