contentious

American  

[kuhn-ten-shuhs] / kənˈtɛn ʃəs /

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.

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contentious British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of contentious

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

Example Sentences

Red card confusion & contentious calls - VAR's 'bad day at office'

From BBC

Burdell, an upscale restaurant serving nostalgic soul food, is the latest to be caught in contentious online debates about the U.S. tip culture.

From Los Angeles Times

The U.S. remains what it has long been: a contentious, often frustrating democracy shaped by competing interests and imperfect leadership.

From The Wall Street Journal

Much like in the U.S., immigration is a contentious topic in the Dominican Republic — the country shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, which has seen an exodus of its people over the decade.

From Los Angeles Times

Washington and Tehran have a history of making negotiations happen in the face of seemingly incompatible demands by quietly shelving some of the most contentious points.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• antagonistic
• combative
• testy