contentious

[kuhn-ten-shuhs]

adjective

1. tending to argument or strife; quarrelsome.

   a contentious crew.

   Synonyms: argumentative, disputatious

2. causing, involving, or characterized by argument or controversy.

   contentious issues.

3. Law.,  pertaining to causes between contending or opposing parties.

contentious

/ kənˈtɛnʃəs /

adjective

1. tending to argue or quarrel

2. causing or characterized by dispute; controversial

3. law relating to a cause or legal business that is contested, esp a probate matter

Other Word Forms

• contentiously adverb
• contentiousness noun
• noncontentious adjective
• noncontentiously adverb
• overcontentious adjective
• overcontentiously adverb
• overcontentiousness noun
• uncontentious adjective
• uncontentiously adverb
• uncontentiousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of contentious¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English contenciose, from Latin contentiōsus, from contenti(ō) contention + -ōsus -ous

Example Sentences

The use of funds backed by Russian assets, however, is contentious.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Branded the "Great People's March" by organizers, the rally comes at the halfway point of contentious COP30 negotiations and follows two Indigenous-led protests that disrupted proceedings earlier in the week.

Read more on Barron's

Some of the applicants have had contentious relationships with banks of late.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Chief Executive Bob Iger defended his company’s stance in the contentious negotiations.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

His slaying is widely regarded as one of the most consequential — and contentious— events of recent Mexican history.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• antagonistic 
• combative 
• testy