contention
Americannoun
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a struggling together in opposition; strife.
-
a striving in rivalry; competition; contest.
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strife in debate; dispute; controversy.
- Synonyms:
- altercation, debate, dissension, disagreement
- Antonyms:
- agreement
-
a point contended for or affirmed in controversy.
noun
-
a struggling between opponents; competition
-
dispute in an argument (esp in the phrase bone of contention )
-
a point asserted in argument
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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”; see contend) + -iō -ion
Explanation
There is nothing "content," or satisfying, about being in contention, and that's probably because the word contention means being in a competition that only one side can win. "And in this corner, the contender" is heard at most boxing matches to describe each of the fighters about to go into contention in the ring. Sometimes, though, a contention can be a battle of words or a struggle between two parties over a single point. The expression "bone of contention" describes a narrow object of disagreement that reaches the level of strife, or contention. For two hungry dogs, though, the bone of contention might be a serious matter.
Vocabulary lists containing contention
"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from all 4 Acts
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"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from Act 3
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Monster
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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.
Contention between Lindsie and her family stems from an incident in 2019.
From Fox News • Aug. 12, 2021
Contention over the bill ultimately led to a second teacher and school service personnel strike in as many years.
From Washington Times • Feb. 17, 2021
EXPECTATIONS: Contention for second straight Super Bowl trip, which would be unprecedented in franchise history.
From Seattle Times • Jul. 22, 2019
Contention is something that Rodgers has put himself in a handful of times since turning pro in 2014.
From Golf Digest • May 9, 2018
He jokingly suggested, to repay her a little for her Contention that he was the best preacher of the revival, that she was the best cook among the women.
From "Go Tell It on the Mountain" by James Baldwin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
