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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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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
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
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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
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It’s said to cause people to become irritable, aggravate health problems, and abrade mechanical devices.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
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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