argument
[noun]
Synonyms:
- quarrel, clash, controversy, disagreement, dispute, feud, fight, row, squabble
- discussion, assertion, claim, debate, dispute, plea, questioning, remonstration
- reason, argumentation, case, defence, dialectic, ground(s), line of reasoning, logic, polemic, reasoning

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Related Words: basis, foundation, position, posture, stance, standpoint, argumentation, debate, disputation, polemic, disagreement, dissension, squabbling, embroilment, fuss, hassle, wrangle, proposition, statement, thesis

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English Thesaurus: argument, row, disagreement, quarrel, feud, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

ar‧gu‧ment S1 W1 /ˈɑːɡjəmənt, ˈɑːɡjʊmənt $ ˈɑːr-/ noun
[Word Family: adjective: arguable, argumentative; verb: argue; noun: argument; adverb: arguably]

1. [countable] a situation in which two or more people disagree, often angrily
argument with
She had a big argument with her husband.
argument about/over
There have been a lot of arguments about who was responsible for the accident.

2. [countable] a set of reasons that show that something is true or untrue, right or wrong etc:
We need to provide a convincing argument as to why the system should be changed.
argument for/against
a powerful argument against smoking
A good argument can be made for comparing the IT revolution with the invention of writing itself.
argument in favour of
the arguments in favour of banning tobacco advertising
argument that
the familiar argument that the costs outweigh the benefits

3. [uncountable] when you disagree with something or question whether it is right
do something without (further) argument
Ian accepted the suggestion without argument.
for the sake of argument (=in order to discuss all the possibilities)
If, for the sake of argument, you aren’t offered the job, what will you do?

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

argument
noun
I. 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

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

argument
II. 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.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

argument

have an argument
I could hear my parents having an argument downstairs.
get into an argument/become involved in an argument
She didn’t want to get into another argument about money.
I left to avoid becoming involved in an argument.
start/cause an argument
He was deliberately trying to start an argument.
Money often causes arguments.
avoid an argument
I was anxious to avoid an argument.
win/lose an argument
The party hopes to win the argument about how to reform the health system.
The first one who resorts to violence is usually the one who’s lost the argument.
an argument breaks out (=it starts)
The men were drunk and an argument soon broke out.
an argument erupts (=a big argument suddenly starts)
A bitter argument erupted between the brothers over who should inherit the money.
a big/huge/massive argument
There was a big argument about whether we should move to a new house.
a heated argument (=involving very strong feelings)
Someone was having a heated argument with a police officer.
a bitter argument
There are bitter arguments about whether he was a hero or a war criminal.
a furious/fierce argument
As soon as she had gone a furious argument broke out.
a violent argument
The singer was hurt in a violent argument with her husband.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

argument
noun
BAD: There are several good arguments for people preferring to live in the countryside.
GOOD: There are several good reasons for people preferring to live in the countryside.
BAD: They don't want children, for purely personal arguments.
GOOD: They don't want children, for purely personal reasons.

Usage Note:
argument = a reason that you give to support your opinion, especially when you are trying to persuade someone: 'The writer's main argument is that a better train service will take cars off the road and lead to a healthier environment.' 'The argument against higher taxation is very simple.'
reason = something that explains someone's actions or feelings, or why a particular situation exists: 'My main reason for doing the course is to improve my qualifications.' 'He's got to go back to Mexico, for family reasons.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

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 /fjuːd/ 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.
argue to speak angrily to someone because you disagree with them about something:
Those two are always arguing.
We rarely argue with each other.
have an argument to argue with someone for a period of time about a particular thing:
She had a long argument with the man who was selling the tickets.
have a row /raʊ/ British English, have a fight especially American English to have an argument with someone, especially with your boyfriend, girlfriend, or a member of your family:
She was upset because she’d had a fight with her boyfriend.
The couple at the next table were having a row.
squabble /ˈskwɒbəl $ ˈskwɑː-/ to argue about unimportant things:
The kids were squabbling over what to watch on TV.
fall out with somebody British English to have a big argument with someone that results in you stopping having a friendly relationship with them:
I’ve fallen out with my best friend.
be at each other’s throats if two people are at each other’s throats, they are always arguing in a very angry way:
His parents are constantly at each other’s throats.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

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 /fjuːd/ 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.
squabble /ˈskwɒbəl $ ˈskwɑː-/ 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.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲