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Synonyms

contention

American  
[kuhn-ten-shuhn] / kənˈtɛn ʃən /

noun

  1. a struggling together in opposition; strife.

    Synonyms:
    combat, conflict
  2. a striving in rivalry; competition; contest.

  3. strife in debate; dispute; controversy.

    Synonyms:
    altercation, debate, dissension, disagreement
    Antonyms:
    agreement
  4. a point contended for or affirmed in controversy.


contention British  
/ kənˈtɛnʃən /

noun

  1. a struggling between opponents; competition

  2. dispute in an argument (esp in the phrase bone of contention )

  3. a point asserted in argument

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

contention Idioms  

Other Word Forms

  • contentional adjective
  • noncontention noun
  • precontention noun

Etymology

Origin of contention

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin contentiōn-, stem of contentiō; from content(us) “competed, striven” (past participle of contendere “to compete, strive, draw tight”; contend ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Both Canadian and Chinese negotiators have made a concerted effort to address points of trade contention, the officials said, and Carney’s trip represents an effort to accelerate progress.

From The Wall Street Journal

There was a theory Fletcher might put himself into contention with positive results against Burnley and Brighton.

From BBC

Since then, though, only Hearts have beaten them in the Premiership, with the Glasgow side's under-the-radar run propelling them into title contention with almost half of the campaign to unfold.

From BBC

“Lidar and radar reduce safety due to sensor contention,” Musk said in August, adding that “sensor ambiguity causes increased, not decreased, risk.”

From MarketWatch

Specifically, the authors point out, these resources subject to contention mean energy, advanced semiconductor chips and rare earth metals required to assemble them.

From MarketWatch