'Contention' definitions:
Definition of 'contention'
From: WordNet
noun
A point asserted as part of an argument
noun
A contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement; "they were involved in a violent argument" [syn: controversy, contention, contestation, disputation, disceptation, tilt, argument, arguing]
noun
The act of competing as for profit or a prize; "the teams were in fierce contention for first place" [syn: competition, contention, rivalry] [ant: cooperation]
Definition of 'Contention'
From: GCIDE
- Contention \Con*ten"tion\, n. [F. contention, L. contentio. See Contend.]
- 1. A violent effort or struggle to obtain, or to resist, something; contest; strife. [1913 Webster]
- I would my arms could match thee in contention. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Strife in words; controversy; altercation; quarrel; dispute; as, a bone of contention. [1913 Webster]
- Contentions and strivings about the law. --Titus iii. 9. [1913 Webster]
- 3. Vehemence of endeavor; eagerness; ardor; zeal. [1913 Webster]
- An end . . . worthy our utmost contention to obtain. --Rogers. [1913 Webster]
- 4. A point maintained in an argument, or a line of argument taken in its support; the subject matter of discussion or strife; a position taken or contended for. [1913 Webster]
- All men seem agreed what is to be done; the contention is how the subject is to be divided and defined. --Bagehot. [1913 Webster]
- This was my original contention, and I still maintain that you should abide by your former decision. --Jowett.
- Syn: Struggle; strife; contest; quarrel; combat; conflict; feud; litigation; controversy; dissension; variance; disagreement; debate; competition; emulation.
- Usage: Contention, Strife. A struggle between two parties is the idea common to these two words. Strife is a struggle for mastery; contention is a struggle for the possession of some desired object, or the accomplishment of some favorite end. Neither of the words is necessarily used in a bad sense, since there may be a generous strife or contention between two friends as to which shall incur danger or submit to sacrifices. Ordinarily, however, these words denote a struggle arising from bad passions. In that case, strife usually springs from a quarrelsome temper, and contention from, a selfish spirit which seeks its own aggrandizement, or is fearful lest others should obtain too much. Strife has more reference to the manner than to the object of a struggle, while contention takes more account of the end to be gained. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'contention'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- altercation,
- antagonism,
- anteposition,
- antipathy,
- antithesis,
- apologetics,
- apologia,
- apology,
- argument,
- argumentation,
- argumentative,
- bellicose,
- belligerence,
- belligerent,
- bicker,
- bickering,
- blood feud,
- brawl,
- broil,
- bucking,
- captious,
- carping,
- casuistry,
- caviling,
- challenge,
- clash,
- clashing,
- collision,
- combative,
- conflict,
- confrontation,
- confrontment,
- contentious,
- contestation,
- contradiction,
- contraposition,
- contrariety,
- contrary,
- contrast,
- contravention,
- contraversion,
- controversial,
- controversy,
- counteraction,
- counterworking,
- crosscurrent,
- crossing,
- defense,
- denial,
- despitefulness,
- difference,
- disaccord,
- disaffinity,
- discord,
- discordance,
- discordancy,
- Discordia,
- disharmony,
- disputation,
- disputatious,
- dispute,
- dissension,
- dissent,
- dissidence,
- disunity,
- donnybrook,
- donnybrook fair,
- embroilment,
- enmity,
- Eris,
- faultfinding,
- feud,
- fiery,
- fight,
- fliting,
- flyting,
- fracas,
- friction,
- froward,
- fuss,
- hassle,
- hasty,
- hate,
- hatred,
- head wind,
- hostility,
- hotheaded,
- hubbub,
- hurrah,
- imbroglio,
- impetuous,
- impugnation,
- impugnment,
- incompatibility,
- incompatibleness,
- inharmoniousness,
- inharmony,
- jangle,
- jar,
- litigation,
- litigious,
- logomachy,
- malevolence,
- malice,
- malignity,
- militant,
- mischief,
- negation,
- noncooperation,
- open conflict,
- open quarrel,
- opposing,
- opposition,
- opposure,
- oppugnation,
- paper war,
- passage of arms,
- peppery,
- perverse,
- polar opposition,
- polarity,
- polarization,
- polemic,
- polemical,
- polemics,
- posing against,
- pugnacious,
- quarrel,
- quarrelsome,
- quarrelsomeness,
- rebutment,
- rebuttal,
- refusal,
- rejection,
- repugnance,
- resistance,
- rhubarb,
- rub,
- rumpus,
- scrappy,
- set-to,
- sharp words,
- slanging match,
- snarl,
- spat,
- spite,
- spitefulness,
- squabble,
- standing against,
- strained relations,
- strife,
- tension,
- tiff,
- traversal,
- truculent,
- tussle,
- undercurrent,
- unharmoniousness,
- unpleasantness,
- variance,
- vendetta,
- verbal engagement,
- war of words,
- warlike,
- words,
- wrangle,
- wrangling