A contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement.
synonyms: arguing, argument, contention, controversy, disceptation, disputation, tilt.
Roget 720:
contention,
strife;
contest,
contestation†;
struggle;
belligerency;
opposition
etc.
708.
controversy,
polemics;
debate
etc.
(discussion)
476;
war of words,
logomachy†,
litigation;
paper war;
high words
etc.
(quarrel)
713;
sparring
etc.
v..
competition,
rivalry;
corrivalry†,
corrivalship†,
agonism†,
concours†,
match,
race,
horse racing,
heat,
steeple chase,
handicap;
regatta;
field day;
sham fight,
Derby day;
turf,
sporting,
bullfight,
tauromachy†,
gymkhana†;
boat race,
torpids†.
wrestling,
greco-roman wrestling;
pugilism,
boxing,
fisticuffs,
the manly art of self-defense;
spar,
mill,
set-to,
round,
bout,
event,
prize fighting;
quarterstaff,
single stick;
gladiatorship†,
gymnastics;
jiujitsu,
jujutsu,
kooshti†,
sumo;
athletics,
athletic sports;
games of skill
etc.
840.
shindy†;
fracas
etc.
(discord)
713;
clash of arms;
tussle,
scuffle,
broil,
fray;
affray,
affrayment†;
velitation†;
colluctation†,
luctation†;
brabble†,
brigue†,
scramble,
melee,
scrimmage,
stramash†,
bushfighting†.
free fight,
stand up fight,
hand to hand,
running fight.
conflict,
skirmish;
rencounter†,
encounter;
rencontre†,
collision,
affair,
brush,
fight;
battle,
battle royal;
combat,
action,
engagement,
joust,
tournament;
tilt,
tilting [Mediev.];
tournay†,
list;
pitched battle.
death struggle,
struggle for life or death,
life or death struggle,
Armageddon†.
hard knocks,
sharp contest,
tug of war.
naval engagement,
naumachia†,
sea fight.
duel,
duello [It];
single combat,
monomachy†,
satisfaction,
passage d'armes [Fr.],
passage of arms,
affair of honor;
triangular duel;
hostile meeting,
digladiation†;
deeds of arms,
feats of arms;
appeal to arms
etc.
(warfare)
722.
pugnacity;
combativeness
etc.
adj.;
bone of contention
etc.
713.
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Dutch: betwisting, woordenwisseling, woordenstrijd, twistgesprek, redetwist, redestrijd, onenigheid, meningsverschil, debat, dispuut, twistpunt, geschil, controverse, pennestrijd, polemiek ... show more
Polish: potyczka, sprzeczka, starcie, utarczka, zwada