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View synonyms for argument

argument

[ ahr-gyuh-muhnt ]

noun

  1. an oral disagreement; verbal opposition; contention; altercation:

    a violent argument.

  2. a discussion involving differing points of view; debate:

    They were deeply involved in an argument about inflation.

  3. a process of reasoning; series of reasons:

    I couldn't follow his argument.

  4. a statement, reason, or fact for or against a point:

    This is a strong argument in favor of her theory.

  5. an address or composition intended to convince or persuade; persuasive discourse.
  6. subject matter; theme:

    The central argument of his paper was presented clearly.

  7. an abstract or summary of the major points in a work of prose or poetry, or of sections of such a work.
  8. Mathematics.
    1. an independent variable of a function.
    2. Also called amplitude. the angle made by a given vector with the reference axis.
    3. the angle corresponding to a point representing a given complex number in polar coordinates. Compare principal argument.
  9. Computers. a variable in a program, to which a value will be assigned when the program is run: often given in parentheses following a function name and used to calculate the function.
  10. Obsolete.
    1. evidence or proof.
    2. a matter of contention.


argument

/ ˈɑːɡjʊmənt /

noun

  1. a quarrel; altercation
  2. a discussion in which reasons are put forward in support of and against a proposition, proposal, or case; debate

    the argument on birth control will never be concluded

  3. sometimes plural a point or series of reasons presented to support or oppose a proposition
  4. a summary of the plot or subject of a book, etc
  5. logic
    1. a process of deductive or inductive reasoning that purports to show its conclusion to be true
    2. formally, a sequence of statements one of which is the conclusion and the remainder the premises
  6. logic an obsolete name for the middle term of a syllogism
  7. maths
    1. an element to which an operation, function, predicate, etc, applies, esp the independent variable of a function
    2. the amplitude of a complex number


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Other Words From

  • re·argu·ment noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of argument1

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English (from Old French ), from Latin argūmentum; argue, -ment

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Idioms and Phrases

see under pick a quarrel .

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Synonym Study

Argument, controversy, dispute imply the expression of opinions for and against some idea. An argument usually arises from a disagreement between two people, each of whom advances facts supporting their own point of view. A controversy or a dispute may involve two or more people. A dispute is an oral contention, usually brief, and often of a heated, angry, or undignified character: a violent dispute over a purchase. A controversy is an oral or written expression of contrary opinions, and may be dignified and of some duration: a political controversy.

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Example Sentences

In 2009, a Pakistani Christian woman got into a religious argument with some Muslim women with whom she was harvesting berries.

I remember that after the movie, people were saying how depressing it was, and I started an argument with them.

Mehdi Bayati has been putting forward the same argument as my middle school teachers.

The argument now is how to limit certain types of plays that banks can make under certain circumstances.

The New York kingmaker who died Monday believed voters could actually handle a nuanced argument.

Many people when presented with the argument above, would settle it at once with the word "socialism."

"But I don't see what you can shoot with it," said Davy, feeling that he was somehow getting the worst of the argument.

That argument was not the one of least weight in the council in determining that our fleet should not sail against the enemy.

These brilliant results were arrived at after much clamour and argument and imposing procès verbal.

An argument took place in a coffee-house, between two men of taste, as to the best method of dressing a beefsteak.

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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.

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