Synonyms for contention
kənˈtɛn ʃəncon·tention

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:2.0 / 1 vote

1. contentionnoun

   Synonyms:
   wrangling

2. contentionnoun

   struggle, contest, strife, argument, debate

   Synonyms:
   wrangling

3. contentionnoun

   A point maintained in an argument, or a line of argument taken in its support; the subject matter of discussion of strife; a position taken or contended for.

   It is my contention that state lotteries are taxes on stupid people.

   Synonyms:
   wrangling

4. contentionnoun

   Competition by parts of a system or its users for a limited resource.

   Synonyms:
   wrangling

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. contention

   A feud is enmity between families, clans, or parties, with acts of hostility mutually retaliated and avenged; feud is rarely used of individuals, never of nations. While all the other words of the group may refer to that which is transient, a feud is long-enduring, and often hereditary. Dissension is used of a number of persons, of a party or other organization. Bitterness is in feeling only; enmity and hostility involve will and purpose to oppose or injure. A quarrel is in word or act, or both, and is commonly slight and transient, as we speak of childish quarrels; contention and strife may be in word or deed; contest ordinarily involves some form of action. Contest is often used in a good sense, contention and strife very rarely so. Controversy is commonly in words; strife extends from verbal controversy to the contests of armies. Affray, brawl, and broil, like quarrel, are words of inferior dignity. An affray or broil may arise at a street corner; the affray always involves physical force; the brawl or broil may be confined to violent language.

   Synonyms:
   affray, animosity, bitterness, brawl, broil, contest, controversy, dispute, dissension, enmity, feud, fray, hostility, quarrel, strife

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. contentionnoun

   a point asserted as part of an argument

   Synonyms:
   contestation, arguing, disceptation, competition, disputation, rivalry, argument, tilt, controversy

2. controversy, contention, contestation, disputation, disceptation, tilt, argument, arguingnoun

   a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement

   "they were involved in a violent argument"

   Synonyms:
   debate, disceptation, lean, list, rivalry, careen, inclination, sway, leaning, line, rock, argument, tilt, joust, controversy, competition, disputation, literary argument, contestation, line of reasoning, arguing, statement, argumentation, logical argument, public debate, parameter

3. competition, contention, rivalrynoun

   the act of competing as for profit or a prize

   "the teams were in fierce contention for first place"

   Synonyms:
   rival, contestation, competitor, disceptation, competition, disputation, contender, rivalry, argument, arguing, challenger, contest, tilt, controversy

Matched Categories

1. • Assertion
   • Group Action

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. contentionnoun

   Synonyms:
   strife, discord, dissension, wrangling, wrangle, quarrel, squabble, feud, rupture, falling out

2. contentionnoun

   Synonyms:
   dispute, debate, bickering, altercation, controversy, logomachy, high words, war of words, strife of words

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. contentionnoun

   Synonyms:
   controversy, dissension, altercation, quarrel, dispute

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "contention":

   discord, assertion, disharmony, containment, argument, affirmation, allegation, claim, disagreement, dispute, thesis, controversy

How to pronounce contention?

How to say contention in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use contention in a sentence?

1. James Madison, Federalist Papers (# 10):

   Democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security, or the rights of property; have in general been as short in their lives as they are violent in their deaths.

2. The American:

   It’s unusual for me to finish 23rd but things like this happen from time to time and I knew it would be hard for me to stay in contention after such a mistake.

3. Marvin E. Wolfgang:

   It is the contention of this observer that few homicides due to shooting could be avoided merely if a firearm were not immediately present, and that the offender would select some other weapon to achieve the same destructive goal.

4. Lawana Blackwell:

   If there was strife and contention in the home, very little else in life could compensate for it.

5. Abraham Lincoln:

   Quarrel not at all. No man resolved to make the most of himself can spare time for personal contention.