contentious

adjective

con·​ten·​tious kən-ˈten(t)-shəs 

1

: likely to cause disagreement or argument

a contentious issue

2

: exhibiting an often perverse and wearisome tendency to quarrels and disputes

a man of a most contentious nature

contentiously adverb

contentiousness noun

Did you know?

If everyone has a bone to pick now and then, contentious types have entire skeletons. While English has plenty of words for people prone to fighting—combative and belligerent among them—contentious implies a fondness for arguing that others find particularly tedious or wearying. Thankfully, even the most contentious cranks and crabs among us have no cause to quibble over the history of the word contentious, as its origins are very clear: contentious comes (by way of Middle French) from the Latin adjective contentiōsus, meaning “persistent, obstinate, argumentative, or quarrelsome.”

Synonyms of contentious

• aggressive
• militant
• hostile
• confrontational
• combative
• irritable

Choose the Right Synonym for contentious

belligerent, bellicose, pugnacious, quarrelsome, contentious mean having an aggressive or fighting attitude.

belligerent often implies being actually at war or engaged in hostilities.

belligerent nations

bellicose suggests a disposition to fight.

a drunk in a bellicose mood

pugnacious suggests a disposition that takes pleasure in personal combat.

a pugnacious gangster

quarrelsome stresses an ill-natured readiness to fight without good cause.

the heat made us all quarrelsome

contentious implies perverse and irritating fondness for arguing and quarreling.

wearied by his contentious disposition

Examples of contentious in a Sentence

In the perpetual skirmish between science and religion, biological evolution is a contentious battle ground. —Barry A. Palevitz, Skeptical Inquirer, July/August 1999

Creator Jim Davis had spent two years fine-tuning the contentious relationship between the grouchy cat, his milquetoast owner, Jon (Davis' pen-and-ink alter ego), and befuddled dog Odie—in a strip he'd thought would be called Jon. —Beth Johnson, Entertainment Weekly, 19 June 1998

Historians, admittedly a contentious lot, have failed even to agree on what to call King Philip's War. —Jill Lepore, The Name of War, 1998

My mental attitude when drinking is both contentious and malicious, and while in this mood and state I was the author of statements which I know to be wholly unfounded. —Theodore Dreiser, The Titan, 1914

After a contentious debate, members of the committee finally voted to approve the funding.

The dispute involves one of the region's most contentious leaders.

Recent Examples on the Web

Following a year of contentious disputes from the radio to the court docket, rapper Drake has been hit with a class action lawsuit. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026

Reopening the crossing, which would allow Palestinians to leave Gaza — especially the ill and wounded who could get specialized care unavailable in the territory — has been contentious. —Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026

The chief justice's Wednesday letter was largely focused on the nation's history, including an early 19th-century case establishing the principle that Congress shouldn't remove judges over contentious rulings. —CBS News, 1 Jan. 2026

Take immigration, one of the most contentious issues of our time. —Will Johnson, Time, 1 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English contenciose "quarrelsome," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French contencieux "subject to disagreement," borrowed from Latin contentiōsus "persistent, obstinate, argumentative, quarrelsome," from contentiō "exertion, competition, contention" + -ōsus -ous

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for contentious

• conscientious
• unpretentious
• pretentious
• sententious
• tendentious

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Kids Definition

contentious

adjective

con·​ten·​tious kən-ˈten-chəs 

: inclined to argue

contentiousness noun