dispute

Now, though thy thoughts are green and tender, as becometh one so young, yet are they those of a thinking brain, and in truth thou dost bring back to my mind certain of those old philosophers with whom in days bygone I have disputed at Athens, and at Becca in Arabia, for thou hast the same crabbed air and dusty look, as though thou hadst passed thy days in reading ill-writ Greek, and been stained dark with the grime of manuscripts.

Some residents disputed the proposal, saying it was based more on emotion than fact.

to dispute assertions or arguments

to dispute the possession of the ground with the Spaniards

Dispute it [grief] like a man.