arguing

ar·gue  (ärgy)

v. ar·gued, ar·gu·ing, ar·gues

v.tr.

1. To put forth reasons for or against; debate: "It is time to stop arguing tax-rate reductions and to enact them" (Paul Craig Roberts).

2. To attempt to prove by reasoning; maintain or contend: The speaker argued that more immigrants should be admitted to the country.

3. To give evidence of; indicate: "Similarities cannot always be used to argue descent" (Isaac Asimov).

4. To persuade or influence (another), as by presenting reasons: argued the clerk into lowering the price.

v.intr.

1. To put forth reasons for or against something: argued for dismissal of the case; argued against an immediate counterattack.

2. To engage in a quarrel; dispute.

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[Middle English arguen, from Old French arguer, from Latin argtre, to babble, chatter, frequentative of arguere, to make clear; see arg- in Indo-European roots.]

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argu·er n.

Synonyms: argue, quarrel¹, wrangle, 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 youI 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.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

arguing - a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement; "they were involved in a violent argument" contestation, controversy, disceptation, disputation, tilt, argument, contention difference of opinion, dispute, difference, conflict - a disagreement or argument about something important; "he had a dispute with his wife"; "there were irreconcilable differences"; "the familiar conflict between Republicans and Democrats" argle-bargle, argy-bargy - a verbal dispute; a wrangling argument firestorm - an outburst of controversy; "the incident triggered a political firestorm" sparring - an argument in which the participants are trying to gain some advantage polemic - a controversy (especially over a belief or dogma) fight - an intense verbal dispute; "a violent fight over the bill is expected in the Senate"