contentious
adjective
con·ten·tious
kən-ˈten(t)-shəs 
1
: likely to cause disagreement or argument
a contentious issue
2
: exhibiting an often perverse and wearisome tendency to quarrels and disputes
a man of a most contentious nature
contentiously
adverb
contentiousness
noun
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.
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
There were several contentious incidents in this rather odd and chaotic match that had appeared as good as over with around 20 minutes left, before several late twists.
—Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
Maybe the most contentious issue ever to divide these two camps is whether or not to replace notoriously inaccurate human home plate umpires with less fallible machines.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 21 Feb. 2025
The intense lead-up to Crowley’s firing In the months that led up to Crowley’s removal, Bass and the city’s fire department had been engaged in a contentious back-and-forth about their immediate response to the Palisades fire.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN, 21 Feb. 2025
The view from Beijing Chinese officials seem to view Mr. Trump warily, expecting relations to remain contentious.
—Ana Swanson, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contentious
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Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
Maybe the most contentious issue ever to divide these two camps is whether or not to replace notoriously inaccurate human home plate umpires with less fallible machines.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 21 Feb. 2025
The intense lead-up to Crowley’s firing In the months that led up to Crowley’s removal, Bass and the city’s fire department had been engaged in a contentious back-and-forth about their immediate response to the Palisades fire.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN, 21 Feb. 2025
The view from Beijing Chinese officials seem to view Mr. Trump warily, expecting relations to remain contentious.
—Ana Swanson, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contentious
Cite this Entry
“Contentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contentious. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
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