contentiousness

noun

Definition of contentiousnessnext
as in aggression
an inclination to fight or quarrel his natural tendency towards contentiousness made him a poor choice for a diplomatic post

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 contentiousness Despite their contentiousness, the candidates agreed on most major policy issues. — Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 17 June 2026 Then there is the lifelong contentiousness with her mother, Marluce Martins Perry, a talented Brazilian artist who reluctantly traded her gifts and status for matrimony and child-rearing and resented her family in the wake of her decision. — A.d. Amorosi, SPIN, 4 May 2026 The theme of the contentiousness was that the Bengals didn’t have interest in offering any long-term guarantees that were a priority to the 31-year-old. — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026 Reinecke attributed some of the contentiousness to a conflict between economic development and historic preservation. — Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contentiousness
  1. aggression
  2. aggressiveness
  3. hostility
  4. combativeness
Noun
  • The government had been lobbying for such an arrangement for months, framed largely around the threat of Russian aggression against NATO’s Eastern border.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Rather it is aimed at helping Ukraine deter future Russian aggression, said Bateman, the force commander.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of aggression
Noun
  • Shingleton had four quarterback hits including two sacks as Hart struggled to match the Royals’ aggressiveness at the line of scrimmage.
    — Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Tight end Isaiah Likely said Harbaugh’s aggressiveness to add to the roster is welcome considering what the team has shown so far.
    — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of aggressiveness
Noun
  • With instant messaging yet to be invented, 11 am—the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month—was chosen to be the time when hostilities would officially cease in order to allow news of the armistice to reach the front lines.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Trump has floated the possibility of restarting hostilities with Iran after the midterm election.
    — Justin Papp,Caleigh Keating,Garrett Downs,Kevin Breuninger,Dan Mangan, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of hostility
Noun
  • Transport second Warning signs of heat stroke include dizziness, headache, nausea, severe fatigue, and can include confusion, combativeness or potential loss of consciousness, Casa says.
    — Scott Neuman, NPR, 29 July 2026
  • But there is a far more important influence Dobeš can have on this series than his combativeness, and that is his puckhandling.
    — Sean Gentille, New York Times, 23 May 2026
Definition of combativeness

Browse Nearby Words

contentious
contentiousness
contentment
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Cite this Entry

“Contentiousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contentiousness. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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