bone of contention
Point of disagreement
A bone of contention is a subject of ongoing dispute or disagreement between parties.
The image is of dogs fighting over a bone—neither willing to let go.
The inheritance remained a bone of contention between the siblings for years.
Money is always the bone of contention in these negotiations.
Absence of shared opinion
- argumentReasoned case or dispute
- quarrelAngry verbal dispute
- conflictOpposition between parties
- controversyProlonged public disagreement
clash · grievance · issue · objection · squabble · wrangle · altercation · misunderstanding
Careful weighing of choices
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- discussionExchange of ideas
- parleyDiscussion between opposing sides
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
arbitration · compromise · stalemate · bargaining chip · concession · terms · settlement · talking point
Resistance between touching surfaces
- strainExcessive stretching force
- uneaseMild persistent worry
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- antagonismActive opposition or hostility
resentment · animosity · enmity · bad blood · acrimony · bitterness · distrust · suspicion
Struggle for supremacy
- contestOrganized competitive event
- adversaryEnemy in conflict
- competitorOne striving against others
- rivalOne who competes against
confrontation · vying · sparring · one-upmanship · turf war · territorial dispute · sibling rivalry · office politics
disagreement
Absence of shared opinion
controversy · clash · grievance · issue · objection · squabble · wrangle · altercation · misunderstanding · falling-out
deliberation
Careful weighing of choices
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- discussionExchange of ideas
- parleyDiscussion between opposing sides
mediation · arbitration · compromise · stalemate · bargaining chip · concession · terms · settlement · talking point
friction
Resistance between touching surfaces
- strainExcessive stretching force
- uneaseMild persistent worry
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
antagonism · resentment · animosity · enmity · bad blood · acrimony · bitterness · distrust · suspicion · ill will
competition
Struggle for supremacy
- contestOrganized competitive event
- adversaryEnemy in conflict
- competitorOne striving against others
rival · confrontation · vying · sparring · one-upmanship · turf war · territorial dispute · sibling rivalry · office politics · power struggle
- disputesargument, beef, bicker, clash, conflict
- body idiomsheart of gold, heart of stone, cold heart, warm heart, soft heart
- controversiescontroversy, dispute, scandal, outcry, outrage
- conflictclash, fight, war, battle, dispute
- problemsproblem, issue, difficulty, complication, trouble
bone of contentioncommon ground
Points of agreement
meeting of minds · mutual understanding · non-issue · agreement · consensus
bone of contentioncommon cause
Mutual objective uniting parties
rallying point · bridge · shared interest · olive branch · bond
bone of contentioncommon ground
Points of agreement
meeting of minds · mutual agreement · accord · harmony · concurrence
bone, contend, contention, contentious, boning, contending, contended, contends, debone