Contention
Contention noun - An earnest effort for superiority or victory over another.
Usage example: several actresses seem to be in heated contention for the title of “worst dressed”
Controversy is a synonym for contention in dispute topic. In some cases you can use "Controversy" instead a noun "Contention", when it comes to topics like conflict, disagreement, debate, speech. popular alternative
Controversy
Controversy noun - An often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions.
Usage example: the seemingly imperishable controversy over the teaching of evolution
Contention is a synonym for controversy in disagreement topic. You can use "Contention" instead a noun "Controversy", if it concerns topics such as dispute, debate, conflict, argument. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- conflict and contention
- conflict and controversy
- argument and contention
- argument and controversy
- row and contention
- row and controversy
- disagreement and contention
- disagreement and controversy
- difference and contention
- difference and controversy
- dispute and contention
- dispute and controversy
- dissension and contention
- dissension and controversy
How words are described
Cite this Source
Controversy and Contention. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/contention/controversy
Contention & Controversy. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/contention/controversy>.
Controversy or Contention. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/contention/controversy.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "contention" and "controversy" have occurred on timeline