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
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Recent Examples of contentious
Arnaud Desplechin, no stranger to contentious pairings (Brother and Sister, Kings & Queen), revisits familiar themes here, but there’s something fresh, too, in the story’s structure and his approach.
—
Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
Land ownership is fiercely protected, making right-of-way acquisition expensive and contentious.
—Ben Jones, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
This is actually a somewhat contentious consideration.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Drummer Joyce has been estranged from Morrissey and Marr following a 1996 lawsuit over the Smiths royalties that was contentious.
—Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contentious
Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
Land ownership is fiercely protected, making right-of-way acquisition expensive and contentious.
—Ben Jones, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
This is actually a somewhat contentious consideration.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Drummer Joyce has been estranged from Morrissey and Marr following a 1996 lawsuit over the Smiths royalties that was contentious.
—Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contentious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contentious
Adjective
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Now and in the future In the early days of the Bowman era, the Oilers appear to be more aggressive in looking for talent.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
-
First, assume that classification will be litigated if the arrangement is aggressive or if the borrower is thinly capitalized.—
Virginia La Torre Jeker,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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As a public institution, UVU upholds First Amendment rights and fosters an environment where ideas – popular or controversial – can be exchanged freely, energetically, and civilly.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
15 Sep. 2025
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Despite her controversial inclusion at the event, Melnikova’s performances were met with robust cheers from the Parisian crowd.—
Caroline Price,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Jeffrey Breinholt, an architect of the material support statutes who spent three decades as a federal terrorism prosecutor, defends the laws as crucial to closing loopholes that were exploited by foreign militant groups and their domestic sympathizers.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
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Lellouche stars as unlikely hero Zem, a disillusioned Zone 3 cop with an idealistic militant past, who is teamed with haughty, high-flying Zone 2 officer Salia, played by Adèle Exarchopoulos, after a leading politician is assassinated in Zone 1.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Thanks to climate change, Cosmism’s ambivalent and generally hostile attitude towards the natural world should also sound familiar.—
Tim Brinkhof,
Big Think,
12 Sep. 2025
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Another camera designed to withstand the hostile environment of space was used outside.—
Catherine Muccigrosso,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In a world on fire, artists sometimes choose language that sounds confrontational or violent.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Sep. 2025
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Honest communication can reduce emotional charge and make planning feel collaborative rather than confrontational.—
Bruce Helmer,
Twin Cities,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Some aspects of playing right-back suit Wieffer’s combative instincts.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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Kennedy appears combative during testimony The three-hour hearing quickly became combative as Kennedy defended his time as HHS secretary amid a flurry of questions on his staffing shakeups, vaccine changes and other issues.—
Will McDuffie,
ABC News,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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He was adopted two weeks later, but after 18 months in his home, Scoob developed a painful skin condition that caused his ears to bleed and left him extremely irritable.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
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Instead, Helen is allowed to be irritable and anti-social, chain-smoking and snappish, without the filmmaker casting judgment.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contentious. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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