CONTENTIOUS Synonyms: 169 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'contentious' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of contentious are bellicose , belligerent , pugnacious , and quarrelsome . While all these words mean "having an aggressive or fighting attitude," contentious implies perverse and irritating fondness for arguing and quarreling. // wearied by his contentious disposition

Q: When would 'bellicose' be a good substitute for 'contentious'?

The meanings of bellicose and contentious largely overlap; however, bellicose suggests a disposition to fight. // a drunk in a bellicose mood

Q: When could 'belligerent' be used to replace 'contentious'?

While the synonyms belligerent and contentious are close in meaning, belligerent often implies being actually at war or engaged in hostilities. // belligerent nations

Q: When can 'pugnacious' be used instead of 'contentious'?

In some situations, the words pugnacious and contentious are roughly equivalent. However, pugnacious suggests a disposition that takes pleasure in personal combat. // a pugnacious gangster

Q: In what contexts can 'quarrelsome' take the place of 'contentious'?

The synonyms quarrelsome and contentious are sometimes interchangeable, but quarrelsome stresses an ill-natured readiness to fight without good cause. // the heat made us all quarrelsome

contentious

adjective

kən-ˈten(t)-shəs

Definition of contentious

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word contentious distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of contentious are bellicose, belligerent, pugnacious, and quarrelsome. While all these words mean "having an aggressive or fighting attitude," contentious implies perverse and irritating fondness for arguing and quarreling.

wearied by his contentious disposition

When would bellicose be a good substitute for contentious?

The meanings of bellicose and contentious largely overlap; however, bellicose suggests a disposition to fight.

a drunk in a bellicose mood

When could belligerent be used to replace contentious?

While the synonyms belligerent and contentious are close in meaning, belligerent often implies being actually at war or engaged in hostilities.

belligerent nations

When can pugnacious be used instead of contentious?

In some situations, the words pugnacious and contentious are roughly equivalent. However, pugnacious suggests a disposition that takes pleasure in personal combat.

a pugnacious gangster

In what contexts can quarrelsome take the place of contentious?

The synonyms quarrelsome and contentious are sometimes interchangeable, but quarrelsome stresses an ill-natured readiness to fight without good cause.

the heat made us all quarrelsome

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 issue could become more contentious as AI developers pursue systems with greater autonomy. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026 That knowledge could be helpful for sorting out contentious claims about quantum effects in life — including in the brain. — Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 23 Sep. 2026 The first and arguably most essential WarnerMount watchdog would come from inside the contentious new studio. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 23 Sep. 2026 Following their contentious divorce, Lockwood decided to remain in Cape Town, South Africa and raise her and Spencer’s young daughters there. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contentious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contentious

Adjective

The customized coupe features a T-top roof, aggressive aero body kit, and a graphics package that could have appeared in the original The Fast and the Furious.

— Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 24 Sep. 2026
At 5-10, 198 pounds, Parrish mostly played nickel corner in Todd Bowles’ aggressive scheme and shined as a rookie.

— PJ Green September 24, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of aggressive

Adjective

The idea of using data from health information exchanges for research is controversial because of privacy concerns.

— Brittany Trang, STAT, 29 Sep. 2026
The claim was made this week by Charles Spencer himself, the ninth Earl Spencer, in Swan Song, his controversial memoir about his sister Princess Diana.

— Diego Parrado, Vanity Fair, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of controversial

Adjective

Walk up to the pastry case and prepare to make some difficult decisions.

— Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2026
Fish can be hard to find and harder to catch this time of year, but American anglers have adapted to difficult fishing conditions.

— Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of difficult

Adjective

The conflicting statements came just days after Pakistani fighter jets struck sites in eastern Afghanistan that Islamabad said were militant hideouts, an escalation between Kabul and Islamabad that threatens mediation efforts by regional powers.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026
Pakistan often accuses Kabul of sheltering the TTP and turning a blind eye to cross-border militant attacks.

— Riaz Khan, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of militant

Adjective

Even so, the film’s gaze is more anthropological than polemical, especially given the faux-doc vibe created by its abundant handheld camerawork, seemingly filmed sometimes by the actors themselves.

— Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 9 Aug. 2026
Now, in the 1500s and 1600s, that phrase was often used by Catholics in their polemical war against Protestants.

— David Frum, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026

Definition of polemical

Adjective

The lawsuit is one of at least 13 cases filed in 2026 by current and former Independence Police Department officers alleging hostile work environments and dysfunction within the department.

— Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026
Chambliss aims to join them while avoiding a long list of talented signal callers who fell apart in one of the sport’s most-hostile environments.

— Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of hostile

Adjective

The environment around Venus at the top of the month is pointed, confrontational, and probably a bit rage-inducing.

— Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2026
The incident came as agitators against immigration adopt a confrontational new tactic of trying to stop the boats landing on England’s shores, clashing with police and rescue workers in the process.

— Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of confrontational

Adjective

The remarks stand in stark contrast to Trump’s earlier posture toward Greenland, which had included months of combative rhetoric, tariff threats and a refusal to rule out military force to acquire the island.

— Alejandra Jaramillo, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
Current and former employees said Allen is largely an absentee leader who is combative and who put his workers in harm’s way by not acting sooner to address building concerns prior to a roof collapse last year.

— Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of combative

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“Contentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contentious. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

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