4
general::
argument
a situation in which people speak angrily to each other because they disagree about something:
• an argument between two drivers over who had right of way • A 29-year-old man was shot and killed today after an argument over a gambling debt.
row
British English , fight especially American English a loud angry argument with someone, especially your boyfriend, girlfriend, or someone in your family. Row is also used about a serious disagreement between politicians about important public issues:
• There were always fights between my parents. • the continuing row over tax increases • A few months ago they had a big row, and Steve drove off and spent the weekend in London.
disagreement
a situation in which people disagree with each other, but without shouting or getting angry:
• There were the occasional disagreements about money, but mostly we got on well. • Ginny had left the company after a disagreement with her boss.
quarrel
especially British English an argument, especially one in which people get angry and that lasts a long time. Quarrel sounds more formal and more serious than argument or row:
• a bitter family quarrel
feud
a very bitter argument between two groups, especially families, which lasts for many years and causes people to hate each other:
• The feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys raged for 20 years.
dispute
a public or legal argument about something, especially one which continues for a long time:
• Morris has been involved in a long legal dispute with his publisher. • The settlement will resolve a long-running dispute over the country’s nuclear program.
war/battle of words
an argument in which two people or groups criticize each other continuously in public:
• The war of words over construction delays at the airport has erupted again.
bust-up
British English informal a very bad argument, especially one in which people decide to separate from each other:
• He had a bust-up with the team manager.
shouting match
an angry argument in which people shout at each other:
• He got into a shouting match with another driver.
slanging match
British English informal an argument in which people insult each other:
• He was sacked after a slanging match with a colleague.
an argument that is not very serious
squabble
an argument about something that is not important:
• There were the usual squabbles between brothers and sisters. • Voters are tired of petty squabbles between party leaders.
tiff
informal an argument that is not very serious, between people who are in love:
• Gary had a bit of a tiff with his girlfriend.
misunderstanding
a slight argument – a rather formal word which is often used humorously:
• There was a slight misunderstanding over the bill, but everything’s been sorted out now.
skirmish
a short argument, especially between politicians or sports opponents:
• Evans and O'Brien had several political skirmishes.
Longman-Thesaurus
5
general::
noun angry discussion ADJ. angry, bitter, heated, violent | big I had a big argument with my mother this morning. | little, silly, stupid VERB + ARGUMENT become/get involved in, get into, have I don't want to get into an argument with her. | cause, provoke, start | lose, win I was determined to win the argument. ARGUMENT + VERB arise, break out, develop, erupt Minutes later a violent argument erupted. PREP. ~ about We had an argument about what we should buy. | ~ between an argument between her parents | ~ over The argument over decentralization will probably continue for ever. | ~ with an argument with his wife reason supporting opinion ADJ. basic, general | main | good, major, powerful, sound, strong, valid | compelling, conclusive, convincing, persuasive | plausible Their argument sounds plausible but is it really valid? | spurious, tenuous, weak | balanced | logical, rational, reasoned | economic, moral, political, theoretical VERB + ARGUMENT advance, deploy, offer, present, put forward He put forward some very convincing arguments. | develop This argument is developed further in the next chapter. | illustrate, support, underline Do you have any evidence to support your argument? | consider, hear, listen to | accept, agree with | dismiss, reject The company dismissed his arguments as alarmist. | counter, refute She tried to think how to refute the argument on moral grounds. ARGUMENT + VERB be based on sth The government's argument is always based on how much such a scheme would cost. | go, run Centralized government, so the argument goes, is too far removed from the problems of ordinary citizens. | apply (for sth) The same argument applies to fox-hunting. | justify sth | suggest sth These arguments suggest that the medical establishment had an interest in suppressing the research. PREP. ~ against the arguments against increasing taxes | ~ concerning arguments concerning the nature of morality | ~ for There is a very good argument for increasing spending on education. | ~ in favour of What are the arguments in favour of change? PHRASES all/both sides of an argument He was able to see both sides of the argument. | a flaw in the argument I can see no flaw in the argument as she has just explained it. | a line of argument I can see a few problems with this line of argument.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary