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
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
One of the most disputed moments of North Carolina history centers on whether a Nazi U-boat attacked a chemical plant near Kure Beach during World War II.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 9 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
Remnant’s dissolution kicked off a complex and disputed series of transactions among the three men.
—Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 22 Jan. 2026
John Ramos, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
Art Tinoco, the Riverside County registrar of voters, disputed the group’s allegations, saying they were based on a misunderstanding of raw data that had not been fully processed.
—Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs, long disputed between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, sit at the gateway to the strait and host Iranian military assets.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
The official disputed the oil industry’s skepticism about the outlook.
—Matt Peterson, CNBC, 28 Mar. 2026
Lee aggressively defended his work and disputed the allegations in both cases.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
Barzee throughout the proceedings disputed the allegations that Cherfilus-McCormick violated House ethics rules or participated in a campaign finance scheme.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
According to its data — disputed by FPL and the electric industry’s national lobby — 27 cents of every dollar its customers paid was profit, more than $5 billion last year.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
County elections officials have disputed the claims by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican.
—ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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
One of the most disputed moments of North Carolina history centers on whether a Nazi U-boat attacked a chemical plant near Kure Beach during World War II.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 9 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
Remnant’s dissolution kicked off a complex and disputed series of transactions among the three men.
—Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
The owner, Lindsay Hoopes, has disputed that and continues to welcome the public onto the property.
—John Ramos, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
Art Tinoco, the Riverside County registrar of voters, disputed the group’s allegations, saying they were based on a misunderstanding of raw data that had not been fully processed.
—Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs, long disputed between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, sit at the gateway to the strait and host Iranian military assets.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
The official disputed the oil industry’s skepticism about the outlook.
—Matt Peterson, CNBC, 28 Mar. 2026
Lee aggressively defended his work and disputed the allegations in both cases.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
Barzee throughout the proceedings disputed the allegations that Cherfilus-McCormick violated House ethics rules or participated in a campaign finance scheme.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
According to its data — disputed by FPL and the electric industry’s national lobby — 27 cents of every dollar its customers paid was profit, more than $5 billion last year.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
County elections officials have disputed the claims by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican.
—ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disputed
Adjective
-
When not giddily tearing apart the rom-com – a key conversation between Charlie and Emma happens in the trope-iest of cinematic eateries, a diner – Borgli asks really major thematic questions with his controversial subject matter.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Denver City Council members face a vote this week that will determine whether the city keeps dozens of license plate-reading cameras or ends the controversial program — at least, for now.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Conservative influencers, among others, blasted the turnabout and questioned Bondi’s capability.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
In a playful bit, Mandel sat down on the podcast wearing an obvious wig, only to jokingly storm off set after Bush questioned his appearance.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Jokic and Oklahoma City’s players had bothered each other and bickered all night.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
28 Feb. 2026
-
The actors jokingly bickered about their history with the ceremony, with Cheadle remarking that Clooney hadn’t won since 2026 winner Timothée Chalamet was 3 years old.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Congress anticipated those rising costs and debated extending the enhanced premium tax credits toward the end of last year.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Why the Rooney Rule is being debated The Rooney Rule is again under scrutiny after Florida Republican attorney general James Uthmeier sent NFL commissioner Roger Goodell a letter earlier this month calling for the policy to be scrapped.—
Mac Engel
March 30,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The results, which came in on March 27, were inconclusive, possibly because so little of the DNA collected was left to be analyzed.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The agency’s report has been kept private, but attorneys have cited snippets in other public filings that say the results were inconclusive.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The court’s comments came from a case brought by the Miami Herald that challenged keeping a portion of a grand jury’s report secret.—
Lawrence Mower,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Perez challenged a 94 mph fastball thrown by Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans in the fourth inning.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And former President John Quincy Adams, who was then serving in the House, argued the Amistad case before the high court in 1841.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
City managers from both cities argued that the regulations were implemented without adequate consideration of the financial consequences for local governments.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Spies discussed his time in the pods, the toughest moments during filming, his time in Cincinnati, his go‑to Skyline Chili order and more.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Both parties discussed a settlement agreement March 10, according to a status update in the case.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disputed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disputed. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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