1
as in controversial
given to arguing
he's too argumentative to be part of a project in which teamwork is critical
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
an argumentative gang of bullies always looking for a fight
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in contentious
relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions
a topic that sparked more than a few argumentative conversations around the watercooler
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of argumentative
While there’s an occasional corny line here, Hanna and Sander wisely keep dialogue on the humorous and/or argumentative side — after all, these are figures who’ve learned the hard way not to admit emotional vulnerability.
—
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 18 Apr. 2024
Venezuela’s ordeal reverberates in the author’s argumentative family: its members’ painful dependencies, moral shortcomings, and monetary mismanagement reflect their country’s breakdowns.
—Paula Ramón, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
As the scene progresses and gets more dynamically argumentative, the characters move into and through the lighting.
—Scott Huver, Variety, 20 Dec. 2023
At one point, Judge Michael Gaffey told Chaudhry not to be argumentative when Chaudhry asked Jabbari if the club was loud.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 7 Dec. 2023
See all Example Sentences for argumentative 
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 18 Apr. 2024
Venezuela’s ordeal reverberates in the author’s argumentative family: its members’ painful dependencies, moral shortcomings, and monetary mismanagement reflect their country’s breakdowns.
—Paula Ramón, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
As the scene progresses and gets more dynamically argumentative, the characters move into and through the lighting.
—Scott Huver, Variety, 20 Dec. 2023
At one point, Judge Michael Gaffey told Chaudhry not to be argumentative when Chaudhry asked Jabbari if the club was loud.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 7 Dec. 2023
See all Example Sentences for argumentative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for argumentative
Adjective
-
The once controversial color combination was spotted all over Copenhagen’s sleekest showgoers.—
Laura Jackson,
Vogue,
31 Jan. 2025
-
Most political observers understood the controversial issues that she would be questioned about in advance.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
An aggressive exterior, with more aero and venting, hints at the performance potential within.—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
-
Eight years later, polls show the president has more support in the country for aggressive limits on immigration, in part because of a surge in migrants crossing the southern border during much of Mr. Biden’s time in office.—
Michael D. Shear,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
Adjective
-
The confirmation dealt, at least symbolically, a powerful blow to the militant group, particularly since the elusive Deif was considered iconic among Hamas fighters for surviving multiple assassination attempts.—
Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports,
arkansasonline.com,
31 Jan. 2025
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The ceasefire is aimed at eventually ending the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and Hamas, and securing the release of dozens of hostages abducted in the militant group’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war.—
MOHAMMAD JAHJOUH,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Some of the more polemical responses to my survey framed podcasting’s pivot to video as a by-product of major tech platforms, specifically Spotify and YouTube, cynically redefining the concept of a podcast to further fuel their attacks on one another.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
31 Dec. 2024
-
When pluralism implies of ideas, of ideologies, of parties, sometimes inimical to each other, sometimes polemical, sometimes in the attempt to make compromises in order to rule a country.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
2 Nov. 2016
Adjective
-
Instead, she was hounded out of the classroom by authorities hostile to Western literature.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2025
-
Last year, Trump's predecessor Joe Biden fired the inspector general of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board, after an investigation found the official had created a hostile work environment.—
Riley Beggin,
USA TODAY,
25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Thanks to its impressive staying power, this eyeliner can be a bit stubborn to remove.—
Siena Gagliano,
Allure,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Coaches will tell you of a character who could be grumpy or stubborn, but also of someone who needed faith shown in him.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
By the end, Liverpool’s players seemed tired and Klopp was irritable, clearly in need of a rest.—
Simon Hughes,
The Athletic,
20 Jan. 2025
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The trio’s sixth record is charmingly irritable in both of its moods: hopped up on fluffy coffee while cracking baseball jokes, or dragging out downbeats and lamenting power structures to goad listeners with mounting anticipation.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
4 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Argumentative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/argumentative. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.
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