1
as in arguments
an idea or opinion that is put forth in a discussion or debate
my contention is that today's lower batting averages are the result of better pitching
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in rivalries
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
several actresses seem to be in heated contention for the title of "worst dressed"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contentions
However, the reality is that peace talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the US and Europe are clearly stalled, if at worse dead with many contentions from both sides surrounding security concerns and, importantly, trade sanctions.
—
Earl Carr, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Earl Carr, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contentions
Noun
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The couple separated soon after but their relationship grew even more strained amid divorce proceedings and arguments over child custody.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
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The Manhattan district attorney’s office, which prosecuted the case, will have a chance to respond to the appeals arguments in court papers.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Beijing’s talent-friendly move could also give it a boost amid continuing trade tensions and tech rivalries with Washington, which has imposed export controls on chips and other advanced technology that are spurring China to develop its own.—
Peter Guo,
NBC news,
23 Oct. 2025
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Lewis, a tight end at Wisconsin from 2004-07, traces his appreciation for rivalries to his Big Ten roots.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Greater Denver Transit members acknowledged that safety has improved, but question the agency’s assertions based on app usage.—
Bruce Finley,
Denver Post,
21 Oct. 2025
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The administration has not made public any evidence to support those assertions.—
Luis Martinez,
ABC News,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Despite years of legal battles over the relocations, more than 150,000 bodies were exhumed from the 1920s to the early 1940s for the trip to Colma, each in various stages of decay.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
25 Oct. 2025
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As legal battles intensify, the administration faces mounting pressure to justify its actions and resolve a case that has tested the limits of executive authority over immigration enforcement.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Halfway between Australia and Hawaii, Nikumaroro plays a key role in one of two rival hypotheses that seek to explain what happened to the famed aviator Amelia Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, who went missing in 1937 while attempting to fly around the world.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
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But Jamey VanVliet, special agent in charge at the Nashville ATF office, did not say what those hypotheses were.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Bieber’s close friend Kendall Jenner has been open about her own struggles with acne—recently, becoming an ambassador for Therabody’s new LED mask, the TheraFace Mask Glo.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
26 Oct. 2025
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And despite their struggles at times, the Dolphins haven’t wavered from investing in those young players in this 1-6 start.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The official inauguration, originally scheduled for July 3, 2025, was postponed to the last quarter of the year due to regional conflicts.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
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Introduced by FilmNation last fall as a sales title at AFM, the film originally had Alan Ritchson attached to star opposite Midthunder, though he was reportedly forced to exit the project due to scheduling conflicts.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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You could also be tested by stressful confrontations, urging you to stand up for yourself without losing yourself in the process.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
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For now, the Chamber’s legal challenge represents one of the most direct confrontations between the nation’s largest business lobby and a Republican administration over immigration policy in decades.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contentions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contentions. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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