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
Uthmeier’s exposure to some of the nation’s most contentious political and legal controversies drew him to the nearby Georgetown University School of Law.
—
Dan Sullivan, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
The song also serves as a showcase for Ilan Rubin behind the kit following last year’s contentious drummer swap among rock bands.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2026
In the last several weeks, Israel has launched a contentious land regulation process that will deepen its control in the occupied West Bank.
—Farnoush Amiri, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
Those contentious talks foreshadowed the extended lockout in the winter before the 2022 season.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contentious
Dan Sullivan, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
The song also serves as a showcase for Ilan Rubin behind the kit following last year’s contentious drummer swap among rock bands.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2026
In the last several weeks, Israel has launched a contentious land regulation process that will deepen its control in the occupied West Bank.
—Farnoush Amiri, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
Those contentious talks foreshadowed the extended lockout in the winter before the 2022 season.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contentious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contentious
Adjective
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The operation also resulted in the killing of two US citizens, the deployment of aggressive tactics by armed, masked DHS agents, and a soaring sense of trepidation permeating Minnesota’s immigrant communities.—
Yahya Salem,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Torres Hidalgo had been diagnosed with the rare and aggressive form of soft tissue cancer in December 2024.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Denver is considering ending its relationship with Flock, a controversial company that maintains a network of license-plate reading cameras in the city, but Mayor Mike Johnston’s office plans to continue using that technology.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
16 Feb. 2026
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Torres has a controversial legacy in Colombia, where conservatives have long derided his decision to seek political change through violent means.—
Manuel Rueda,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The voracious reader said that the best books, those that brought him happiness, were not the ones that ease our way in this strange and difficult world.—
Noah Goldberg,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Local farmers work long hours, often under difficult conditions, to ensure our food supply remains steady.—
Joe Dymek,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The ceasefire deal calls for an armed international stabilization force to keep security and ensure the disarming of the militant Hamas group, a key demand of Israel.—
Aamer Madhani,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2026
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But since the beginning of the year, hundreds of Nigerians have been killed, injured, or kidnapped in attacks across the country with responsibility attributed to a mix of militant and criminal actors, including Boko Haram, the Islamic State, and a group known as Lakurawa.—
Adrian Elimian,
semafor.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Yet as Fennell has proved in a slew of interviews about the already polemical film, released Friday, the relationship between Brontë’s Gothic epic and its latest adaptation is more complicated than that.—
Malia Mendez,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Feb. 2026
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Colleges and universities nationwide continue to grapple with polemic issues associated with the fair treatment of individuals of differing backgrounds, political persuasions, and sexuality.—
Blake D. Morant,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Deery believes that decline can be attributed in part to prospective students and parents feeling like campuses are hostile to those who don't hold a liberal-leaning worldview.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
18 Feb. 2026
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For some unexplained reason, if such an event continues for a prolonged period, citizens can often become inexplicably hostile.—
Wayne Chan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Much of the pro-Talarico online push centers on Crockett’s electability, a routine primary debate that grows divisive when her confrontational tactics, not her record, are targeted.—
Gromer Jeffers Jr,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Feb. 2026
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Popular talk show host Colin Cowherd, who is paid to have opinions, threw up his arms recently on the topic and said his only suggestion was for Silver to channel his more-confrontational predecessor David Stern and yell at losing teams.—
David K. Li,
NBC news,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Meyer, an at-times combative career litigator, was brought in from the NHL Players Association in 2018 to add muscle to a bargaining team that was viewed as having surrendered ground in the negotiations for the 2017-2021 CBA, which was almost immediately panned as a loss for the players.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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Known for being a staunch player advocate and for his sometimes combative demeanor, Meyer was unanimously elected in a vote of major- and minor-league players held during a video meeting Wednesday afternoon.—
Evan Drellich,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contentious. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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