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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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contentious
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • But Afghan-Pakistan relations have soured amid an uptick in militant violence against Pakistan.
    Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025
  • 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
  • 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
  • Corigliano’s symphony is assaultive in style and confrontational in intent.
    Alex Ross, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
  • 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
  • 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
  • Watts pressed further, Porter grew visibly frustrated, and finally Porter accused Watts of being unnecessarily combative.
    Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • However, the Moon is at odds with Mars, encouraging grumpy and irritable reactions.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2025
  • 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

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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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