Word
contention
Meanings
strong disagreement or argument, often public or prolonged
a claim or viewpoint that someone argues for in a discussion or debate
competition or struggle to win or achieve something
Definition
Contention is a strong disagreement or the act of arguing over something.
Contention refers to a heated disagreement, debate, or struggle between people or groups. It can describe open argument, especially when opinions clash and emotions run high. It can also mean a statement or claim that someone argues is true, particularly in formal discussion.
Examples
- The proposal triggered contention among residents who disagreed about how the neighborhood should change.
- I avoided contention by asking clarifying questions instead of challenging his assumptions in the meeting.
- Her contention that the data had been misinterpreted prompted the team to rerun the analysis.
- They stayed in contention for the championship after a disciplined performance under pressure.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse contention (a disagreement or claim) with intention (a plan or aim) because the words look similar.
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