Synonyms for argue
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Remonstrate — to have an argument, a quarrel
remonstrate, bicker, dispute, squabble, wrangle, row, expostulate rare, altercate rare
3. Submit — to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints; to controvert; to wrangle
4. Prove — to show grounds for concluding (that); to indicate, imply
prove, indicate, imply, evidence, demonstrate, moot, evince, show, establish, denote, betoken
Other
reason, persuade, discuss, oppose, plead, chop logic, contest, sift, tangle, try conclusions dated
Definitions
- v. 1
To show grounds for concluding (that); to indicate, imply.
The new increase in crime argues for even tougher jail sentences, according to some.
- v. 2
To debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints; to controvert; to wrangle.
He also argued for stronger methods to be used against China.
- v. 3
To have an argument, a quarrel.
- v. 4
To present (a viewpoint or an argument therefor).
He argued that America should stop Lend-Lease convoying because it needed to fortify its own Army with the supplies.
Related words
- Word family
- argy-bargy argle-bargle arguable arguer arguesome argufy argument argumentative
Forms
- Past participle
- argued
e.g. argued → remonstrated, bickered, disputed, squabbled…
Choose the right word
Reason is a neutral word, not, like argue, debate, discuss, etc., naturally or necessarily implying contest.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- dispute Go is a game of dispute and conquest of territory.
- squabble The diplomatic squabble flared into an open war.
- bicker The two siblings bicker without reason.
- remonstrate I remonstrate with my boss about my performance evaluation.
- prove Further study will prove that the theory is right.
- discuss I have a lot of friends I can discuss things with.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| argue | rising | |
| dispute | steady | |
| squabble | rising | |
| bicker | rising | |
| remonstrate | steady | |
| prove | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- row1
- 4 letters
- show1, moot1, spar1, sift1
- 5 letters
- prove1, fence1, imply2, plead1
- 6 letters
- reason2, debate2, submit2, oppose2, denote2, tangle2, bicker2, evince2
- 7 letters
- discuss2, contest2, dispute2, contend2, wrangle2, betoken
- 8 letters
- evidence3, indicate3, persuade2, squabble2
- 9 letters
- establish3, altercate
- 11 letters
- demonstrate3, remonstrate, expostulate
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (imply2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- arguer
- Deutsch
- argumentieren
- Català
- argüir