Synonyms for argue
verb
To endeavor to convince
plead, appeal, assert, maintain, claim, hold, explain, justify, elucidate, present, show, support, reason with, dispute, contend, oppose, demonstrate, establish, join issue, make a case for, put up an argument*.
To discuss
debate, discuss, talk about, clarify; see sense 1,
discuss.
To quarrel
dispute, contend, fight, bicker; see quarrel.
See syn. study atdiscuss.
See argue in American Heritage Dictionary 4 Synonyms
argue quarrel 1wrangle squabble bicker
These verbs denote verbal exchange expressing conflict. To argue is to present reasons or facts in order to persuade someone of something: “I am not arguing with you—I am telling you” (James McNeill Whistler).
Quarrel stresses hostility: The children quarreled over whose turn it was to wash the dishes.
Wrangle refers to loud, contentious argument: “audiences . . . who can be overheard wrangling about film facts in restaurants and coffee houses” (Sheila Benson).
Squabble suggests petty or trivial argument: “The one absolutely certain way of bringing this nation to ruin . . . would be to permit it to become a tangle of squabbling nationalities” (Theodore Roosevelt).
Bicker connotes sharp, persistent, bad-tempered exchange: The senators bickered about the President's tax proposal for weeks.
See Also Synonyms at
discuss,
indicate.
See argue in Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus II
verb
To put forth reasons for or against something, often excitedly:
contend, debate, dispute, moot. See affirm, wordsTo engage in a quarrel:
bicker, contend, dispute, fight, quarrel, quibble, spat, squabble, tiff, wrangle. (Informal) hassle, tangle. Idioms: cross swords, have it out, have words, lock horns. See conflictTo put into words positively and with conviction:
affirm, allege, assert, asseverate, aver, avouch, avow, claim, contend, declare, hold, maintain, say, state. Idiom: have it. See affirmTo give grounds for believing in the existence or presence of:
attest, bespeak, betoken, indicate, mark, point to, testify, witness. See show
phrasal verb argue intoTo succeed in causing (a person) to act in a certain way:
bring, bring around (or round), convince, get, induce, persuade, prevail on (or upon), sell (on), talk into. See persuasion
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