CONTENTIOUSLY 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 next

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

as in controversial

given to arguing a tiresomely contentious person who likes to argue for the sake of arguing

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 But the brand’s dominance has been contentious over the years, and certain cities, like New York, have banned or put high restrictions on home rentals of less than 30 days to help with overtourism and hold space for locals. —

Jamie Spain, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Apr. 2026 Migration remains a contentious issue — and so does support for Ukraine. —

Domi Suskova, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2026 Parking prices are a contentious issue – $40 in advance for general parking at Dodger Stadium and $45 at the gate, $65 in advance and $70 at the gate for oversized vehicles, limos and buses, and $65 for preferred parking, only available in advance. —

Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026 Some Pinellas officials said the board’s contentious search for a CEO has influenced public perception. —

Alexa Coultoff, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contentious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contentious

Adjective

Orbán's nationalist party has become a model for MAGA populists, particularly for its aggressive stance on immigration.

— Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Florian Wirtz was over aggressive in his initial press and then lacked urgency to help balance out City’s right-side overload, while neither Curtis Jones or Ryan Gravenberch drifted across.

— Andy Jones, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026