Dispute

dispute
    n 1: a disagreement or argument about something important; "he
         had a dispute with his wife"; "there were irreconcilable
         differences"; "the familiar conflict between Republicans
         and Democrats" [syn: {dispute}, {difference}, {difference
         of opinion}, {conflict}]
    2: coming into conflict with [syn: {dispute}, {contravention}]
    v 1: take exception to; "She challenged his claims" [syn:
         {challenge}, {dispute}, {gainsay}]
    2: have a disagreement over something; "We quarreled over the
       question as to who discovered America"; "These two fellows
       are always scrapping over something" [syn: {quarrel},
       {dispute}, {scrap}, {argufy}, {altercate}]
    

Dispute \Dis*pute"\, v. t.
   1. To make a subject of disputation; to argue pro and con; to
      discuss.
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            The rest I reserve it be disputed how the magistrate
            is to do herein.                      --Milton.
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   2. To oppose by argument or assertion; to attempt to
      overthrow; to controvert; to express dissent or opposition
      to; to call in question; to deny the truth or validity of;
      as, to dispute assertions or arguments.
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            To seize goods under the disputed authority of writs
            of assistance.                        --Bancroft.
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   3. To strive or contend about; to contest.
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            To dispute the possession of the ground with the
            Spaniards.                            --Prescott.
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   4. To struggle against; to resist. [Obs.]
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            Dispute it [grief] like a man.        --Shak.

   Syn: To controvert; contest; gainsay; doubt; question; argue;
        debate; discuss; impugn. See {Argue}.
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Dispute \Dis*pute"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Disputed}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Disputing}.] [OE. desputen, disputen, OF. desputer,
   disputer, F. disputer, from L. disputare, disputatum; dis- +
   putare to clean; hence, fig., to clear up, set in order,
   reckon, think. See {Putative}, {Pure}.]
   To contend in argument; to argue against something
   maintained, upheld, or claimed, by another; to discuss; to
   reason; to debate; to altercate; to wrangle.
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         Therefore disputed [reasoned, --Rev. Ver.] he in
         synagogue with the Jews.                 --Acts xvii.
                                                  17.
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Dispute \Dis*pute"\, n. [Cf. F. dispute. See {Dispute}, v. i.]
   1. Verbal controversy; contest by opposing argument or
      expression of opposing views or claims; controversial
      discussion; altercation; debate.
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            Addicted more
            To contemplation and profound dispute. --Milton.
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   2. Contest; struggle; quarrel. --De Foe.
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   {Beyond dispute}, {Without dispute}, indisputably;
      incontrovertibly.

   Syn: Altercation; controversy; argumentation; debate;
        discussion; quarrel; disagreement; difference;
        contention; wrangling. See {Altercation}.
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280 Moby Thesaurus words for "dispute":
      Kilkenny cats, Socratic method, abjure, agitate, altercate,
      altercation, apologetics, apologia, apology, argue, argufy,
      argument, argumentation, asking, assert the contrary,
      awake a doubt, bandy words, be diffident, be doubtful, be dubious,
      be skeptical, be uncertain, beef, belie, bicker, bicker over,
      bickering, bitch, blood feud, boggle, boycott, brawl,
      bringing into question, broil, buck, call in question, canvass,
      casuistry, cat-and-dog life, catechizing, cavil, challenge,
      choplogic, combat, combative reaction, complain, complain loudly,
      complaint, conflict, confront, confute, contend, contend about,
      contend with, contention, contentiousness, contest, contestation,
      contradict, contravene, controversy, controvert, counter,
      counteraction, cross, cross swords, cry out against,
      cut and thrust, debate, defense, defiance, demonstrate,
      demonstrate against, demur, deny, differ, difference of opinion,
      disaffirm, disagree with, disagreement, disallow, disavow, discept,
      disclaim, discord, discuss, discussion, disown, disprove,
      disputation, dissension, dissent, dissent from, dissentience,
      distrust, disturbance, donnybrook, donnybrook fair, doubt, duel,
      embroilment, enmity, enter a protest, examination, expostulate,
      face down, face out, face up to, falling-out, feud, fight,
      fight against, fight over, fighting, flite, fliting, flyting,
      forswear, fracas, fractiousness, front, fuss, gainsay,
      give and take, greet with skepticism, half believe,
      harbor suspicions, hassle, have it out, have reservations,
      have words, holler, hostility, howl, hubbub, hurrah, imbroglio,
      impugn, inquiring, interpellation, interrogation, join issue,
      join issue upon, kick, kick against, litigation, lock horns,
      logomachize, logomachy, make a stand, march, meet head-on, miff,
      misgive, mistrust, moot, negativism, noncooperation, not accept,
      not admit, nullify, object, object to, objection, obstinacy,
      offer resistance, open quarrel, oppose, opposition, paper war,
      passage of arms, passive resistance, pettifog, picket, plead,
      polemic, polemicize, polemics, polemize, press objections, probing,
      protest, pumping, quarrel, quarrel over, quarreling,
      quarrelsomeness, query, querying, question, questioning, quibble,
      quiz, quizzing, raise a howl, raise a question, rally, reaction,
      rebuff, rebut, recalcitrance, recalcitrancy, recalcitrate,
      recalcitration, recant, refractoriness, refuse to admit, refute,
      reluct, reluctance, remonstrance, remonstrate, renitence,
      renitency, renounce, repel, repellence, repellency, repudiate,
      repulse, repulsion, resistance, retract, revoke, revolt, rhubarb,
      row, rumpus, scrapping, scruple, seeking, set to, set-to,
      sharp words, show fight, sit in, slanging match, smell a rat,
      snarl, spar, spat, squabble, squabble over, squabbling, squawk,
      stand, stand at bay, stand up against, stand up to,
      state a grievance, strife, strike, strive against, struggle,
      suspect, take back, take exception to, take issue with, take sides,
      teach in, thrash out, throw doubt upon, tiff, traverse,
      treat with reserve, try conclusions, tussle, uncooperativeness,
      vendetta, verbal engagement, war, war of words, warfare, withstand,
      withstanding, words, wrangle, wrangle over, wrangling,
      yell bloody murder