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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 state scientist union went four years without a contract due to contentious negotiations. William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 16 May 2025 The meeting with the company quickly became contentious. Joshua Kaplan, ProPublica, 15 May 2025 The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s portion of the Trump agenda bill has been among the most contentious. Mike Lillis, The Hill, 14 May 2025 Most were from the minority Democrats, calling for revision or withdrawal of some of the most contentious provisions of the budget blueprint. Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for contentious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contentious
Adjective
  • The 82-year-old was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, the second most common cancer among men, with 1 in 8 being diagnosed in their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society.
    Sam Woodward, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Nonprofits focused on such issues could be seen as antagonistic to the company’s aggressive commercialization efforts.
    Hayden Field, CNBC, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • But the matchup turned controversial in the third quarter.
    Natasha Dye, People.com, 19 May 2025
  • Anno 117 doesn't seem to reinvent the experience compared to 1800, but after the controversial attempts that preceded both of these titles, that may not be a bad thing.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • Israel blames civilian casualties on Hamas because the militant group operates from civilian areas.
    Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2025
  • Saturday's summit comes two months after Israel ended a ceasefire reached with the Hamas militant group in January.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • And Marguerite did actually manage to live there for years, scraping together a life on the hostile tundra.
    The Atlantic, The Atlantic, 15 May 2025
  • And this is a very hard-line government that has taken a kind of hostile view of everybody in the region.
    Obed Manuel, NPR, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • While known for his combative political tone, Trump has often shown a softer side when speaking about his children and grandchildren.
    Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025
  • As for the broader trajectory of U.S. policy, signs point to a less combative tone — at least for now.
    Shannon Carroll, Quartz, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • The crew is under the supervision of the capable Mensah (Noma Dumezweni) who is prone to panic attacks as the group visits an irritable planet at the behest of The Corporation — a powerful business conglomerate where profit is indeed king.
    Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 May 2025
  • It’s said to cause people to become irritable, aggravate health problems, and abrade mechanical devices.
    Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Contentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contentious. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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