1
as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
the Tartars were a contentious people who terrorized much of Asia and eastern Europe during the Middle Ages
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in controversial
given to arguing
a tiresomely contentious person who likes to argue for the sake of arguing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in difficult
relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions
gun control is likely to be a contentious subject in any group discussion
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contentious
The other said deliberations were contentious, but respectful.
—
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
The pressure on Engelbert has mounted as the negotiations have grown more contentious.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2025
This isn’t the first time something contentious happened during YoungBoy’s MASA Tour.
—Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 10 Oct. 2025
The vote set up a potentially contentious series of negotiations with the House, which has loaded its version of the measure with a range of conservative social policy dictates that the Senate mostly avoided.
—Robert Jimison, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contentious
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
The pressure on Engelbert has mounted as the negotiations have grown more contentious.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2025
This isn’t the first time something contentious happened during YoungBoy’s MASA Tour.
—Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 10 Oct. 2025
The vote set up a potentially contentious series of negotiations with the House, which has loaded its version of the measure with a range of conservative social policy dictates that the Senate mostly avoided.
—Robert Jimison, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contentious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contentious
Adjective
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The offensive line had five presnap penalties, and allowed four sacks and 11 tackles for loss to an aggressive Lobos defense.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
12 Oct. 2025
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Not only does the quarterback need to be accurate and aggressive, but the play caller needs to dial up ways to create advantageous one-on-one situations and the receivers have to win those chances.—
Derrik Klassen,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The sketch began by portraying part of Bondi’s controversial Senate hearing this week, where the United States Attorney General was grilled and cagey about topics such as the Jeffrey Epstein files.—
William Earl,
Variety,
12 Oct. 2025
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American Eagle –– whose partner brand Aerie has been known for marketing underwear to women with imagery that celebrated stretch marks, cellulite and a range of body sizes — ran a controversial ad campaign starting in July.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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But Afghan-Pakistan relations have soured amid an uptick in militant violence against Pakistan.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
15 Oct. 2025
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By this time, however, Hamas had already begun to eclipse secular rivals in popularity and Palestinian elections held in 2006 led to a victory for the Islamist militant group, sparking clashes with the PA's leading Fatah faction and Hamas' eventual takeover of the territory the following year.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In response, Stanton told him to go away, using an expletive, and sent a series of hostile messages, as well as one asking to meet in person, the complaint alleges.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
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But in the best-of-seven ALCS, the Jays needed four starters, so there was Scherzer, making his first appearance of the postseason in a hostile environment with his team needing a win to tie the series with the Seattle Mariners at two games apiece.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Corigliano’s symphony is assaultive in style and confrontational in intent.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
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In August, Kelley was arrested and charged with three misdemeanors — one for electronic communications harassment and two for electronic disclosure of personal identifying information — following days of apparent confrontational social media posts allegedly doxxing her friends and family members.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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When the Boston Police Department came across violent pro-Palestine supporters at the Boston Common, officers were not dressed in riot gear, and there was not enough manpower to handle the combative situation, according to the president of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
12 Oct. 2025
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Watts pressed further, Porter grew visibly frustrated, and finally Porter accused Watts of being unnecessarily combative.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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However, the Moon is at odds with Mars, encouraging grumpy and irritable reactions.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
15 Oct. 2025
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However, such symptoms are hard to attribute to vaccines because infants can be irritable or fussy regardless of vaccination.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contentious. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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