argumentative
Americanadjective
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fond of or given to argument and dispute; disputatious; contentious.
The law students were an unusually argumentative group.
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of or characterized by argument; controversial.
an argumentative attitude toward political issues.
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Law. arguing or containing arguments suggesting that a certain fact tends toward a certain conclusion.
adjective
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given to arguing; contentious
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characterized by argument; controversial
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of argumentative
Explanation
If you're argumentative, you have a tendency to quarrel or squabble. An argumentative classmate always finds a reason to disagree with the teacher's viewpoint. You'd probably enjoy being on a debate team if you're naturally argumentative. Argumentative people always seem to come up with an argument or difference of opinion. When it first appeared in the 15th century, argumentative simply described anything having to do with arguments, from the Latin root arguere, "make clear, make known, or demonstrate." By the 1660s, it had also come to mean "fond of arguing."
Vocabulary lists containing argumentative
Common Core Grades 7–8, List 1
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Common Core Grade 6, List 1
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Common Core Grades 9–10, List 1
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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.
See Argumentative Research: Enhancing the Art of Rhetoric with Evidence for more about facts and opinions.
From Textbooks • Dec. 21, 2021
I once wrote a book called “The Argumentative Indian,” where I discuss how much arguing there was.
From The New Yorker • Oct. 6, 2019
Q. Argumentative New Boyfriend: I've been with my boyfriend six months now, and he's very attentive and thoughtful.
From Slate • May 20, 2013
Argumentative voices created driving, punchy rhythms that sailed over more smoothly floating narrative tones.
From New York Times • Aug. 8, 2012
Argumentative as the Buddhist suttas are, their aim is strictly practical, even when their language appears scholastic, and the burden of all their ratiocination is the same and very simple.
From Hinduism and Buddhism, An Historical Sketch, Vol. 1 by Eliot, Charles, Sir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
