as in quarrel
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
there was a bit of a contretemps over the seating arrangements for the upcoming wedding
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contretemps
To outsiders, the summer’s weeks-long contretemps over the prime minister’s after-hours activities might seem like a tempest in a Nordic teapot.
—
Michael Hunt, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2022
What’s followed have been a succession of contretemps.
—David A. Andelman, CNN, 26 Aug. 2022
Marin's lack of good judgment and naivete has led us to this ridiculous contretemps, which will eventually blow over.
—Marja Heinonen, CNN, 23 Aug. 2022
The normally dignified sport had a brief contretemps at the time of the opening game this year.
—New York Times, 1 Dec. 2021
See All Example Sentences for contretemps
Michael Hunt, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2022
What’s followed have been a succession of contretemps.
—David A. Andelman, CNN, 26 Aug. 2022
Marin's lack of good judgment and naivete has led us to this ridiculous contretemps, which will eventually blow over.
—Marja Heinonen, CNN, 23 Aug. 2022
The normally dignified sport had a brief contretemps at the time of the opening game this year.
—New York Times, 1 Dec. 2021
See All Example Sentences for contretemps
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contretemps
Noun
-
Sridhar Ramaswamy has a war cabinet of workers and frequently gets into quarrels with staffers over AI ambition.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
24 Feb. 2025
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He’s been the attorney general for the state the last eight years, regularly an ally of litigation-ready Gov. Roy Cooper in quarrels with the Legislature.—
Alan Wooten | The Center Square,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
12 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
While some Iranian reformists have traditionally advocated for talks with the U.S., the Oval Office altercation has led to a reassessment.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
3 Mar. 2025
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Not that this is necessarily the reason but an AI bot making Oscar predictions is forecasting a Will Smith/Chris Rock-style altercation between Brody and Chalamet.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The incident comes roughly three months after workplace dispute led to a shooting at a Texas USPS distribution facility that left one worker dead.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
5 Mar. 2025
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The dispute about the FEMA funds comes as the Trump administration is considering reshaping or abolishing FEMA.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The controversy surrounding Musk's involvement in Social Security stems from his push for deep cuts in government spending while also suggesting Social Security could be targeted.—
William Lambers,
Newsweek,
9 Mar. 2025
-
The estate, at the edge of Chico State’s campus, served as a cultural touchstone and educational space for generations of Chico residents, but not without controversy.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacramento Bee,
9 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Daylight saving time isn’t going away anytime soon While all but two states in the U.S. continue to observe daylight saving time, there is still disagreement about whether the practice should be eliminated or made permanent.—
Kevinisha Walker,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2025
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Under the current system, the council’s discretion to overturn such decisions is limited to when there has been a procedural error — not a disagreement about historic value.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Better to follow the West German example and achieve full NATO membership for independent Ukraine than to watch essential U.S. support dwindle as Congress bickers and Trump’s reelection odds increase.—
M. E. Sarotte,
Foreign Affairs,
8 July 2024
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Meanwhile, Esmeralda bickers with her daughter Jacqueline (Tenley Stitzer), who’s terrified of nuclear war and obsessed with rocker David Lee Roth.—
Celia Wren,
Washington Post,
9 Apr. 2024
Noun
-
The argument as articulated so far by Trump administration officials appears to play down the economic benefits created by Social Security payments, infrastructure spending, scientific research and other forms of government spending that can shape an economy’s trajectory.—
Josh Boak,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2025
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People have different reassurance languages, and using the wrong one can leave your partner feeling unsettled, even if the argument is technically over.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Their responses indicate a lengthy fight to come over the budget resolution.—
Sudiksha Kochi,
USA TODAY,
27 Feb. 2025
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His childhood was turbulent—his parents' frequent fights sometimes turned physical, with his father directing his frustrations at young Gene.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to contretemps
Cite this Entry
“Contretemps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contretemps. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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