Definition of CONTENTIOUS (original) (raw)

: likely to cause disagreement or argument

: exhibiting an often perverse and wearisome tendency to quarrels and disputes

a man of a most contentious nature

Synonyms

Choose the Right Synonym for contentious

bellicose suggests a disposition to fight.

a drunk in a bellicose mood

pugnacious suggests a disposition that takes pleasure in personal combat.

quarrelsome stresses an ill-natured readiness to fight without good cause.

the heat made us all quarrelsome

contentious implies perverse and irritating fondness for arguing and quarreling.

wearied by his contentious disposition

Examples of contentious in a Sentence

In the perpetual skirmish between science and religion, biological evolution is a contentious battle ground. —Barry A. Palevitz, Skeptical Inquirer, July/August 1999 Creator Jim Davis had spent two years fine-tuning the contentious relationship between the grouchy cat, his milquetoast owner, Jon (Davis' pen-and-ink alter ego), and befuddled dog Odie—in a strip he'd thought would be called Jon. —Beth Johnson, Entertainment Weekly, 19 June 1998 Historians, admittedly a contentious lot, have failed even to agree on what to call King Philip's War. —Jill Lepore, The Name of War, 1998 My mental attitude when drinking is both contentious and malicious, and while in this mood and state I was the author of statements which I know to be wholly unfounded. —Theodore Dreiser, The Titan, 1914

After a contentious debate, members of the committee finally voted to approve the funding. The dispute involves one of the region's most contentious leaders.

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

This hearing and a Thursday session before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions are expected to be contentious due to Kennedy's views on vaccines. —Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025 Kennedy’s hearing marks the beginning of what is expected to be a series of contentious sessions on Capitol Hill. —Matt Galka, Baltimore Sun, 29 Jan. 2025 France’s strict media chronology rules have been a contentious issue for Disney with the company reluctant to sign up for official investment obligations and skipping theatrical releases for movies, such as Strange World in 2022, in protest at the previous 17-month window for Disney+. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2025 The vote came a little more than a week after Hegseth’s contentious appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee. —Mariel Padilla and Grace Panetta, Them, 27 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for contentious

Word History

Etymology

Middle English contenciose "quarrelsome," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French contencieux "subject to disagreement," borrowed from Latin contentiōsus "persistent, obstinate, argumentative, quarrelsome," from _contenti_ō "exertion, competition, contention" + -ōsus -ous

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of contentious was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near contentious

Cite this Entry

“Contentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contentious. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.