argumentative
Americanadjective
-
fond of or given to argument and dispute; disputatious; contentious.
The law students were an unusually argumentative group.
-
of or characterized by argument; controversial.
an argumentative attitude toward political issues.
-
Law. arguing or containing arguments suggesting that a certain fact tends toward a certain conclusion.
adjective
-
given to arguing; contentious
-
characterized by argument; controversial
Other Word 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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Common Core Grade 6, List 1
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Common Core Grades 9–10, List 1
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
South Hall is known as one of Eastern’s “dump-off” blocks, where they send rabble-rousers, the outspoken, argumentative prisoners, the ones who have most fallen out of favor with the guards.
From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026
Adams was a balding curmudgeon from Massachusetts—brainy, argumentative and physically ill-favored.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
With six politicians vying for your attention, these debates can be noisy and argumentative, but they can also be enlightening and influential.
From BBC ● Apr. 28, 2026
There are mysteries to solve, of course, but they come and go, while family, even at its most arduous and argumentative, is forever.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2025
“Not to be argumentative, but you’ve been in the city a long time.”
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
