Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
Source: tatoeba (4474764)
Contesting
Synonyms for "contesting" (23 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (5)
Noun(5 words)
Strong matches (7)
Related words (11)
Noun(5 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: arguable, challenge, challenging, competing, contending.
- Sentence evidence is available for contesting, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from opengloss, derived_reverse.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "contesting".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "contesting"
Keep "contesting" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "contesting" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "contesting", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "contesting" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
6 entriesMore specific
19 entriesadministrative contestingappeal contestingarguablechallengecompetitivecontendingcontroversialcounterclaimdebatabledisputabledisputeelection contestingfinalsopposeoppositionalpreliminaries
Showing 16 of 19 words.
Collocations
14 entriescontesting a claimcontesting a decisioncontesting authoritycontesting ballotscontesting claimscontesting decisionscontesting electionscontesting interpretationscontesting judgmentscontesting legitimacycontesting outcomescontesting resultscontesting the outcomecontesting the results
Inflections
5 entriesDerivations
7 entriesSample sentences
3 total sentences available.
They have used language from the constitution to indict him and put him under the parameter of section 135 of the constitution disqualifying him contesting for office.
Source: tatoeba (10960153)
With regard to these disputes, doubts, and contestings, of the early and the later times of the Republic, I may be allowed to note this: that we may easily wonder how they could have been raised by persons not foreign to the city, but who belonged to those same families the members of which formed part of the government of the Republic.
Source: wiktionary
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "contesting"?
Closest matches include arguable, challenge, challenging, competing, contending.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "contesting"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.