as in quarrel
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
there was a bit of a contretemps over the seating arrangements for the upcoming wedding
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Recent Examples of contretemps
To outsiders, the summer’s weeks-long contretemps over the prime minister’s after-hours activities might seem like a tempest in a Nordic teapot.
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Michael Hunt, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2022
What’s followed have been a succession of contretemps.
—David A. Andelman, CNN, 26 Aug. 2022
Marin's lack of good judgment and naivete has led us to this ridiculous contretemps, which will eventually blow over.
—Marja Heinonen, CNN, 23 Aug. 2022
The normally dignified sport had a brief contretemps at the time of the opening game this year.
—New York Times, 1 Dec. 2021
See all Example Sentences for contretemps 
Michael Hunt, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2022
What’s followed have been a succession of contretemps.
—David A. Andelman, CNN, 26 Aug. 2022
Marin's lack of good judgment and naivete has led us to this ridiculous contretemps, which will eventually blow over.
—Marja Heinonen, CNN, 23 Aug. 2022
The normally dignified sport had a brief contretemps at the time of the opening game this year.
—New York Times, 1 Dec. 2021
See all Example Sentences for contretemps
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contretemps
Noun
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The heads of corporate branding cook up a brief, a design firm answers with a litany of slides, and, after iterations, interventions, and internal quarrels, the sign arrives in the physical plane, with glossy acrylic letterforms and antiseptic light.Laura Preston, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
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The key is to keep communication clear and avoid overreacting to petty quarrels and misunderstandings.Valerie Mesa, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024
Noun
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In 2016, the actress filed for divorce after accusing Pitt of physically abusing her and their children during an altercation on a private jet.Ashley Hume, Fox News, 31 Dec. 2024
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Two years ago, Jolie filed a countersuit over a dispute about the sale of her half of the pair’s winery that detailed an altercation in 2016 including Pitt being physically aggressive to both Jolie and their children.Max Goldbart, Deadline, 31 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The dispute originated with a recurring issue in the River Valley when strong odors are emitted from a biowaste storage lagoon in the Arkansas River bottom in Crawford County.Penny Weaver, arkansasonline.com, 2 Jan. 2025
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The neighbor whose property disputes require legal intervention rather than friendly conversation.Nik Ershov, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
Noun
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While the legal battle is ongoing with the Swiss high court (and likely to be prolonged), Chiles reflected in November on the impact of the controversy.Caroline Price, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
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Meanwhile, Johnson enters the new year trying to ditch the missteps and the controversies that have left his political standing in the dust.Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The lawsuit, originally filed by DHL in September, centers around a financial disagreement stemming from MyPillow's use of DHL's delivery services.Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
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But the board quickly devolved into disagreement Tuesday as supervisors nominated themselves for the officer positions.Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Better to follow the West German example and achieve full NATO membership for independent Ukraine than to watch essential U.S. support dwindle as Congress bickers and Trump’s reelection odds increase.M. E. Sarotte, Foreign Affairs, 8 July 2024
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Meanwhile, Esmeralda bickers with her daughter Jacqueline (Tenley Stitzer), who’s terrified of nuclear war and obsessed with rocker David Lee Roth.Celia Wren, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
Noun
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The record, of course, would come in a Week 17 game, so arguments can be had about its legitimacy.Ryan Morik, Fox News, 1 Jan. 2025
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There is no good-faith argument that the Broncos didn’t deserve a Playoff spot and a chance to compete for a national title.Justin Williams, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Set in the pre-Independence, the biopic talks about Savarkar and his role in India’s fight against the British rule.Sweta Kaushal, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
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The Fed dialed back its fight against inflation over the final months of last year, lowering interest rates by a percentage point.Max Zahn, ABC News, 10 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Contretemps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contretemps. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.
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