Mawson, C.O.S., ed. (1870–1938). Roget’s International Thesaurus. 1922.
Class V. Words Releasing to the Voluntary PowersDivision (I) Individual Volition
Section IV. Antagonism
2. Active Antagonism
720. Contention.
CONTROVERSY, polemics; debate (discussion) [See Reasoning]; war of words, logomachy, litigation; paper war; high words (quarrel) [See Discord]; sparring &c. v.
COMPETITION, rivalry; corrivalry, corrivalship; agonism [obs.], concours [F.], match, race, tug of war, horse racing, heat, dash, steeple chase, point-to-point race, handicap; regatta; field day; sham fight, Derby day; turf, sporting, bull-fight, tauromachy [rare], gymkhana [orig. Anglo-Indian]; boat race, torpids [Oxford Univ.].
pugilism, boxing, fisticuffs, spar, mill [cant], set-to [colloq.], round, bout, event; prize fighting; quarterstaff, single stick; gladiatorship, gymnastics; wrestling; catch-as-catch-can -, Greco-Roman (or Græco-Roman) -, Cornish -, Westmorland and Cumberland- style [of wrestling]; jujutsu (also jujitsu, jiujutsu, jiujitsu), samo [Jap.], kooshti [Hind.]; athletics, athletic sports; games of skill [See Amusement].
FRACAS (discord) [See Discord]; clash of arms; tussle, scuffle, broil, fray; affray, affrayment [obs.]; velitation [obs.]; luctation [rare], colluctation [obs.], shindy [colloq.], brigue [obs.], brabble, scramble, mêlée [F.], scrimmage, stramash [dial. or slang], free-for-all [cant]; free -, stand up -, hand to hand -, running- fight.
CONFLICT, skirmish; encounter, rencounter, rencontre, collision, affair, brush, fight; sharp contest, hard knocks; battle, – royal; combat, action, engagement, just or joust, tournament; tilt, tilting; tourney, lists; pitched battle; guerrilla (or guerilla) -, irregular- warfare; bush-fighting.
deeds -, feats- of arms; pugnacity; combativeness &c. adj.; bone of contention [See Discord].
death struggle, struggle for life or death, Armageddon.
NAVAL ENGAGEMENT, naumachia or naumachy, sea fight.
DUEL, duello [rare], single combat, monomachia [L.] or monomachy, satisfaction, passage d’armes [F.], passage of arms, affair of honor; triangular duel; hostile meeting, digladiation [archaic]; appeal to arms (warfare) [See Warfare].
contend &c. with; grapple -, engage -, close -, buckle [obs.] -, bandy -, try conclusions -, have a brush &c. n. -, tilt- with; encounter, fall foul of, pitch into [colloq.], clapperclaw [archaic or dial.], run a tilt at; oppose [See Opposition]; reluct.
compete -, cope -, vie -, race- with; outvie, emulate, rival; run a race.
contend &c. for, stipulate for, stickle for; insist upon, make a point of.
JOIN ISSUE, come to blows; be at -, fall to -, go to- loggerheads; set to, come to the scratch, pull a gun [slang], exchange shots, measure swords, meet hand to hand; take up the -cudgels, – glove, – gauntlet; tourney, just or joust, enter the lists; couch one’s lance; give satisfaction; appeal to arms (warfare) [See Warfare].
lay about one; break the peace.
CONTENTIOUS, combative, bellicose, belligerent, unpeaceful; warlike [See Warfare]; quarrelsome [See Irascibility]; pugnacious, pugilistic; tauromachian or tauromachic [rare]; gladiatorial.
ATHLETIC, gymnastic, palæstral or palestral, palæstric or palestric; competitive, rival.