contentious
[ kuhn-ten-shuhs ]
/ kənˈtɛn ʃəs /
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adjective
tending to argument or strife; quarrelsome: a contentious crew.
causing, involving, or characterized by argument or controversy: contentious issues.
Law. pertaining to causes between contending or opposing parties.
OTHER WORDS FOR contentious
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Origin of contentious
1400–50; late Middle English contenciose<Latin contentiōsus, equivalent to contenti(ō) contention + -ōsus-ous
OTHER WORDS FROM contentious
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use contentious in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for contentious
contentious
/ (kənˈtɛnʃəs) /
adjective
tending to argue or quarrel
causing or characterized by dispute; controversial
law relating to a cause or legal business that is contested, esp a probate matter
Derived forms of contentious
contentiously, adverbcontentiousness, nounCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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