CONTENTIOUS Synonyms: 169 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'contentious' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of contentious are bellicose , belligerent , pugnacious , and quarrelsome . While all these words mean "having an aggressive or fighting attitude," contentious implies perverse and irritating fondness for arguing and quarreling. // wearied by his contentious disposition

Q: When would 'bellicose' be a good substitute for 'contentious'?

The meanings of bellicose and contentious largely overlap; however, bellicose suggests a disposition to fight. // a drunk in a bellicose mood

Q: When could 'belligerent' be used to replace 'contentious'?

While the synonyms belligerent and contentious are close in meaning, belligerent often implies being actually at war or engaged in hostilities. // belligerent nations

Q: When can 'pugnacious' be used instead of 'contentious'?

In some situations, the words pugnacious and contentious are roughly equivalent. However, pugnacious suggests a disposition that takes pleasure in personal combat. // a pugnacious gangster

Q: In what contexts can 'quarrelsome' take the place of 'contentious'?

The synonyms quarrelsome and contentious are sometimes interchangeable, but quarrelsome stresses an ill-natured readiness to fight without good cause. // the heat made us all quarrelsome

contentious

adjective

kən-ˈten(t)-shəs

Definition of contentious

as in aggressive

feeling or displaying eagerness to fight the Tartars were a contentious people who terrorized much of Asia and eastern Europe during the Middle Ages

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in controversial

given to arguing a tiresomely contentious person who likes to argue for the sake of arguing

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as in difficult

relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions gun control is likely to be a contentious subject in any group discussion

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word contentious distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of contentious are bellicose, belligerent, pugnacious, and quarrelsome. While all these words mean "having an aggressive or fighting attitude," contentious implies perverse and irritating fondness for arguing and quarreling.

wearied by his contentious disposition

When would bellicose be a good substitute for contentious?

The meanings of bellicose and contentious largely overlap; however, bellicose suggests a disposition to fight.

a drunk in a bellicose mood

When could belligerent be used to replace contentious?

While the synonyms belligerent and contentious are close in meaning, belligerent often implies being actually at war or engaged in hostilities.

belligerent nations

When can pugnacious be used instead of contentious?

In some situations, the words pugnacious and contentious are roughly equivalent. However, pugnacious suggests a disposition that takes pleasure in personal combat.

a pugnacious gangster

In what contexts can quarrelsome take the place of contentious?

The synonyms quarrelsome and contentious are sometimes interchangeable, but quarrelsome stresses an ill-natured readiness to fight without good cause.

the heat made us all quarrelsome

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 contentious That created a contentious primary for the Republican-leaning district, which stretches east from Nashville. — ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026 Mayor Mamdani, a vocal and prominent member of the Democratic Socialists of America, drew a sharp line Thursday between his views and the party’s platform on the contentious issue of public safety and policing. — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026 After a contentious primary, Hertel said the party is looking to bring everyone together. — Elle Meyers, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 The relationship between the board and the community has gotten so contentious that Licata told the hundreds in attendance at an April board meeting that comments made toward the board offended him. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contentious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contentious

Adjective

In many cars, an aggressive recuperation pitches the passengers and driver forward.

— Mark Ewing, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Jason Semore’s defenses, with his aggressive 4-2-5 scheme, typically rack up interceptions.

— Fisher Isbell, AJC.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of aggressive

Adjective

Hilton, born Mario Lavandeira, gained fame after launching his highly popular gossip website in the early Aughts and garnered notoriety for his unapologetic and often controversial take on celebrities’ lives.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026
Italy has also pointed to Ceuta to push forward a controversial plan, forged in Italy's partnership with Albania, to move migrant screenings outside of the EU.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of controversial

Adjective

Establishing that sense of familiarity requires time spent playing and training together, something made more difficult by a constant carousel of new signings.

— Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
Nugraha said difficult terrain has complicated efforts, with some hotspots located on steep volcanic slopes that are difficult to reach by land.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of difficult

Adjective

Abductions at schools are common in Nigeria, where militant groups target them to put pressure on the government and extract ransoms.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
The agreement, part of a broader ceasefire deal reached last year, calls for Israel to cease its military operations and for Hamas and its allies in Gaza to halt all militant activity.

— Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of militant

Adjective

The Venezuelan artist’s latest LP harks back to her experimental mixtapes &&&&& and @@@@@, trading the KiCK series’ pop and reggaeton impulses for confrontational, uncompromising electronic sounds.

— Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026
Reflecting on the album in a 2008 interview with SPIN, Costello said people mistook the confrontational pose for genuine swagger.

— SPIN Staff, SPIN, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of confrontational

Adjective

On Tuesday night, Michigan’s Democrats backed El-Sayed in his gamble that an aggressive, combative, and at times divisive approach to politics will work in a swing state.

— Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026
Lise Klaveness, the impressively combative head of the Norwegian Football Federation, would struggle to win enough support but would be an intriguing candidate.

— Simon Hughes, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of combative

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“Contentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contentious. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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