ARGUE Synonyms: 183 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'argue' contrast with its synonyms?

The words debate and discuss are common synonyms of argue . While all three words mean "to discourse about in order to reach conclusions or to convince," argue implies the offering of reasons or evidence in support of convictions already held. // argued that the project would be too costly

Q: When is it sensible to use 'debate' instead of 'argue'?

While in some cases nearly identical to argue , debate suggests formal or public argument between opposing parties; it may also apply to deliberation with oneself. // debated the merits of the amendment // I'm debating whether I should go

Q: When might 'discuss' be a better fit than 'argue'?

The synonyms discuss and argue are sometimes interchangeable, but discuss implies a sifting of possibilities especially by presenting considerations pro and con. // discussed the need for a new highway

argue

verb

ˈär-(ˌ)gyü

Definition of argue

as in to contend

to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration argued that a bake sale would make a lot less money than a car wash

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to bicker

to express different opinions about something often angrily that couple argues so incessantly it's a miracle they're still together

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to convince

to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest requests argued my boss into letting me telecommute for four days a week

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to discuss

to talk about (an issue) usually from various points of view and for the purpose of arriving at a decision or opinion candidates arguing gun control in a nationally televised debate

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as in to confirm

to give evidence or testimony to the truth or factualness of the security video argues that it was a taller man who entered the building

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb argue contrast with its synonyms?

The words debate and discuss are common synonyms of argue. While all three words mean "to discourse about in order to reach conclusions or to convince," argue implies the offering of reasons or evidence in support of convictions already held.

argued that the project would be too costly

When is it sensible to use debate instead of argue?

While in some cases nearly identical to argue, debate suggests formal or public argument between opposing parties; it may also apply to deliberation with oneself.

debated the merits of the amendment

I'm debating whether I should go

When might discuss be a better fit than argue?

The synonyms discuss and argue are sometimes interchangeable, but discuss implies a sifting of possibilities especially by presenting considerations pro and con.

discussed the need for a new highway

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of argue Critics argue that the bill would expose people to prosecution for consensual conduct. — Ilana Turko, New York Daily News, 4 Oct. 2026 Additionally, Devitt argues that even if an AI agent helps a shopper discover a product, Amazon can still handle the purchase and delivery, keeping much of the transaction value. — CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026 But Gay and Eva Bermúdez Zimmerman, executive director of Child Care for CT, argued that eliminating Head Start’s longtime requirements would reduce the quality of care participants receive. — Maia Nehme, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026 The authors of Proposition 40 are in favor of trying to impose wealth taxes at any level of government, but others argue that a national wealth tax has the best chance of success here. — Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for argue

Recent Examples of Synonyms for argue

Verb

Through the season’s first two weeks, any thoughts of the Falcons contending for a playoff spot appeared delusional and all conversations appeared moot.

— Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Mancuso filed a $45 million breach-of-contract suit, contending that he’d been fired, and later settled for as much as $20 million.

— Richard Natale, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of contend

Verb

The two of them together, just 17 months apart, shared playlists, bickered over where to stop during Apple CarPlay calls, pulled up beside me and faded away with silly faces, encapsulating 20 years of my life in my rearview mirror.

— Robert Duffer, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Like law enforcement agents everywhere, they’re disposed to bickering about jurisdiction or pumping each other for off-limits information.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of bicker

Verb

Get in touch ahead of your stay to discuss additional needs with the team, who will try their best to accommodate.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Frontman Marcus Mumford sat down with host Jimmy Kimmel to discuss the album and its collaborations, as well as being a Disney adult and going to Disneyland solo.

— Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of discuss

Verb

The model had to reason about a structured but unfamiliar environment using the information available through the game’s underlying protocol.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
This makes generalization and AGI key concepts when reasoning about the speed of progress.

— Geoffrey Irving, Time, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of reason

Verb

Kosovo has criticized the verdicts as unjust, maintaining that the KLA, which Thaci had led before entering politics, fought against Serbian oppression.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
His emphasis on fighting crime, his anti-left agenda and his confrontations with the Supreme Federal Court and Brazil’s political establishment directly appeal to issues that have mobilized Bolsonaro’s base for years.

— Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of fight

Verb

So far, Siemens has managed to persuade companies to share their data in return for access to its AI model and the ability to request new use cases.

— Sam Forsdick, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
Peril at End House features Christie fan favorites like Arthur Hustings and Chief Inspector Japp and is set in Cornwall, where Poirot and Hastings meet a young woman who is persuaded that someone is out to kill her.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of persuade

Browse Nearby Words

arguable

argue

argued

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Style

“Argue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/argue. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of argue

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