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contention

the disagreement that results from opposing arguments:

There's a lot of contention about that issue - for every person firmly in favor, there's someone fiercely against it.

warrant

to make a particular activity necessary:

Obviously what she did was wrong, but I don't think it warranted such a severe punishment.

deterrence

the action or the fact of deterring people from doing something:

nuclear deterrence They believed in the principle of nuclear deterrence.

ethical

relating to beliefs about what is morally right and wrong:

ethical and legal issues

autonomous

freedom to govern itself:

autonomous region