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
The contentious professional relationship between billionaire Elon Musk and President Donald Trump has seemingly come to an end.
—Maria Gracia Santillana Linares, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Everything's an 'emergency': How Trump's executive order record pace is testing the courts
Lawmakers often shy away from piling too much into one bill because each contentious provision spurs its own opposition.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 8 June 2025
One particularly contentious confrontation occurred at a Home Depot in the heavily Latino city of Paramount, just outside Los Angeles.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 8 June 2025
The 21st century brought booming sales and a contentious years-long unionization effort.
—Ethan Wolin, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for contentious
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Maria Gracia Santillana Linares, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Everything's an 'emergency': How Trump's executive order record pace is testing the courts
Lawmakers often shy away from piling too much into one bill because each contentious provision spurs its own opposition.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 8 June 2025
One particularly contentious confrontation occurred at a Home Depot in the heavily Latino city of Paramount, just outside Los Angeles.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 8 June 2025
The 21st century brought booming sales and a contentious years-long unionization effort.
—Ethan Wolin, Sacbee.com, 6 June 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 17 Jun. 2025.
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