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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 contentious decision comes a year after commissioners voted to freeze property tax revenues in an effort to quell residents’ concerns about rising bills and of losing their homes when basic living expenses are increasingly expensive. Sofi Zeman july 11, Kansas City Star, 11 July 2025 One of the style’s most contentious points among purists is its pearlescent finish, which has shifted to varying shades over the shoe’s many reissues. Riley Jones, Footwear News, 9 July 2025 Though Republicans are expected to retain their majority in the upper chamber, the seat can be a strong asset for both parties, particularly concerning contentious legislation that needs to bypass a 60-vote filibuster. Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 8 July 2025 Hearing From The Other Side Like most important aspects of life, there are two sides to this contentious coin. Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for contentious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contentious
Adjective
  • With that in mind, it's expected the Dodgers will be very aggressive at the trade deadline.
    Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
  • And signs have emerged that the White House may be misreading Trump’s election mandate and the political moment, with new polls showing public sentiment turning nationwide on the president’s increasingly aggressive enforcement tactics.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • Paxton, the controversial state attorney general who survived an impeachment trial last year, is running against long-serving Senator John Cornyn.
    Karlyn Bowman, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • The drop follows a wave of controversial policy moves, including the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill and expanded tariffs on Canadian imports.
    Amanda Castro Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • Buhari vowed to do more to fight militant groups and fix the economy as the demonstrations turned deadly and continued to simmer for the remainder of his presidency.
    Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 13 July 2025
  • Settler violence in the West Bank has risen since the start of Israel's war against Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza in late 2023, according to rights groups.
    Ali Sawafta, USA Today, 13 July 2025
Adjective
  • Forced to work in a more hostile environment than.when it was first established in 2019, the mission faces limited options for evacuations due to the ongoing suspension of international commercial flights, and mobility, because of gangs’ ongoing gang encirclement of Port-au-Prince.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 14 July 2025
  • From retail shops to corner bodegas and independent grocery stores, the past few years have not only forced small business owners to confront staggering economic challenges, but also a needlessly hostile regulatory environment brought on by out-of-touch policymakers.
    Tosha Miller, New York Daily News, 12 July 2025
Adjective
  • Israel and Greece would also try to stymie a pan-Turkic outflow of funds and power thrusting a combative Erdogan into their zones of influence.
    Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
  • Although many will agree with Nandy’s position, her combative stance has raised eyebrows among fellow lawmakers, BBC insiders, and industry observers.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • Determined to make a clean SPF, Brown says a chemical formula was out of the question (chemical sunscreens are often thought to be unsafe for the coral reef and irritable to sensitive skin types).
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 9 July 2025
  • In my own experience, poor sleep has frequently been the reason behind feeling tired and irritable.
    Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 8 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Contentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contentious. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

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