contretemps

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

These two ladies seem far too alike not to arrive at a contretemps, which they quickly do.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025

However, as has been seen in recent years, the inherent clash of personalities there does break out into the open sometimes, especially when they have an on-track contretemps.

From BBC • Dec. 10, 2024

Innocently hang a flag the wrong way — or hang the wrong flag — and what was supposed to be a celebration can become a diplomatic contretemps.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 6, 2024

Aside from one episode in which he threw a rubber chicken at a persistent questioner, he coolly conveyed at press briefings the sensitivity of the diplomatic contretemps.

From New York Times • May 12, 2023

“Yes, huh, yes there was a small, a little contretemps at the tree.”

From "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles