contention
a struggling together in opposition; strife.
a striving in rivalry; competition; contest.
strife in debate; dispute; controversy.
a point contended for or affirmed in controversy.
Origin of contention
1Other words for contention
Opposites for contention
Other words from contention
- con·ten·tion·al, adjective
- non·con·ten·tion, noun
- pre·con·ten·tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use contention in a sentence
Unfortunately, none of his reported behavior following his arrival in Nigeria supports those contentions.
The episode in some ways was just another blip in the ever-contentions dispute over casualty stats in the covert drone war.
U.S. Drone Program Needs to Be Accompanied by Hard Facts on Civilian Deaths | Daniel Klaidman | November 8, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTSometimes the contentions around jurisdiction reach almost comical levels.
Christian Monks Square Off at One of Jerusalem’s Holiest Sites | Nina Strochlic | July 4, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTThe American people probably assume an educated and well-staffed set of lawmakers have worked up support for their contentions.
Here again, within the compass of a brief essay it is impossible to set forth these contentions in detail.
Charles Baudelaire, His Life | Thophile Gautier
The parents returned to heaven, and there are constant contentions between the brother and sister.
Ancient Faiths And Modern | Thomas InmanWe are sure to be losers when we quarrel with ourselves; it is a civil war, and in all such contentions, triumphs are defeats.
The point overlooked in both these contentions is the essential difference in the character of the two kinds of Masonry.
Secret Societies And Subversive Movements | Nesta H. WebsterThe verdict of the arbitrators recognized a measure of right in the contentions of both sides.
The Canadian Dominion | Oscar D. Skelton
British Dictionary definitions for contention
/ (kənˈtɛnʃən) /
a struggling between opponents; competition
dispute in an argument (esp in the phrase bone of contention)
a point asserted in argument
Origin of contention
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with contention
see bone of contention.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Browse