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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of contentious
The Ferry Landing Associates sub-lease for the Maiden Coronado restaurant is not to be confused with a separate, contentious contract dispute between the larger Coronado Ferry Landing center and the San Diego Unified Port District.
—
Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Located at the tip of South America, Guyana is part of the Caribbean Community and shares a contentious land border with Venezuela.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
That would leave Defense, Labor-Health and Human Services, and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development for the final package, with Defense and Labor-HHS likely to be the most contentious bills.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 7 Jan. 2026
The basis for those warnings was even at the time contentious.
—Stephen B. Soumerai, STAT, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contentious
Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Located at the tip of South America, Guyana is part of the Caribbean Community and shares a contentious land border with Venezuela.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
That would leave Defense, Labor-Health and Human Services, and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development for the final package, with Defense and Labor-HHS likely to be the most contentious bills.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 7 Jan. 2026
The basis for those warnings was even at the time contentious.
—Stephen B. Soumerai, STAT, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contentious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contentious
Adjective
-
That’s the kind of chance that last season, a more aggressive-looking Stolarz would have used his frame — and frankly, his big-game presence — to turn away with ease.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The agency has also faced criticism for aggressive tactics used by ICE agents in executing the president’s immigration policy.—
Andy Rose 19 hr ago,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
This loss had to be especially tough for the Jayhawks, considering a controversial holding call on KU changed the momentum of the game.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Watson’s combination of scientific achievement and controversial remarks created a complicated legacy.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Jens generally chooses his words carefully, and is, what’s more, particularly reticent just after finishing a long and difficult winter delivery trip; what’s a person supposed to do with words in a blizzard anyway, up on a stormy heath and all directions lost?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
-
In his first start in the wake of Beau Pribula’s significant injury, Zollers walked into a difficult situation, and his stat line reflected it.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Israel and the Lebanese militant group exchanged fire for over a year before reaching a ceasefire in November 2024.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Iran has been plagued for years by staggering hyperinflation, fueled by Western sanctions imposed over the hardline clerical government's nuclear program and backing for militant groups across the region.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Hollywood has become petrified of anything close to polemical.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The White House’s approach to social media now resembles the polemical, trolling, vicious manner of posting that Fuentes and his fans helped pioneer.—
Ali Breland,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Skepticism came easily to Trump, who had long been hostile to mainstream foreign policy.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The helicopter the pilot was flying — a heavy, twin-rotor MH-47 Chinook — was struck by hostile fire during the operation.—
January 9,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Any American traveling abroad right now should prepare to have confrontational conversations, Hernandez says.—
Terry Ward,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
-
This year’s furry green villain is more funny than scary, his behavior unthreatening, his confrontational manner with the Whos never feeling particularly dangerous.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Venus fuses with combative Mars in your 3rd House of Communication, mixing tenderness with intensity and pushing for words that match actions.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Jan. 2026
-
During her speech, Paulson shared a bunch of text messages Keaton had sent her over the years, all of which were at once warm and acerbic, kind and a playfully combative.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contentious. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share