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
The route’s alignment has been contentious for years.
—
Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
California and Texas are just two states that have been at the center of the contentious battle for control of the House in 2026, as more states across the country take a closer look at redrawing their congressional districts mid-decade to bolster their party’s power in Washington.
—Halle Troadec, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2025
Vrabel’s response was a contentious one.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Zohran Mamdani was projected to be elected the next mayor of New York, easily defeating challengers Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa in one of the most contentious races in recent memory to lead the city.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contentious
Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
California and Texas are just two states that have been at the center of the contentious battle for control of the House in 2026, as more states across the country take a closer look at redrawing their congressional districts mid-decade to bolster their party’s power in Washington.
—Halle Troadec, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2025
Vrabel’s response was a contentious one.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Zohran Mamdani was projected to be elected the next mayor of New York, easily defeating challengers Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa in one of the most contentious races in recent memory to lead the city.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
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
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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
-
Even leaving these facts aside, neither the doctrinaire socialism nor militant Islam have ever improved any place on earth, and New York City will not be the first.—
Newsweek Contributors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
-
He was held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian militant group in Gaza allied with Hamas which also held Israeli hostages during the war.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Hollywood has become petrified of anything close to polemical.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Nov. 2025
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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
-
There are guns, horses, ghosts, a primal struggle for survival in hostile terrain, family feuds and a steadily intensifying sense of mortal threat, as Old Porch’s ambition and psychopathy escalate the drama.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
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Fire department suffering low morale When Washington was fired, City Manager Sheryl Long blamed him for creating a hostile work environment for female firefighters and for failing to improve the department's workplace culture.—
Aaron Valdez,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Any American traveling abroad right now should prepare to have confrontational conversations, Hernandez says.—
Terry Ward,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
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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
-
Reiner joined the writers’ room, an orderly place at first but eventually the loudest, most combative fourteen-by-twenty enclave in New York.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
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And after combative floor debates throughout the afternoon, Democrats blocked the advancement of a GOP bill to pay federal workers and military personnel during government shutdowns.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contentious. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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