1
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
2
as in controversial
given to arguing
a tiresomely contentious person who likes to argue for the sake of arguing
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contentious
One of the contentious issues in the pandemic agreement has to do with how many vaccines manufacturers in each country must share in exchange for access to genetic sequences to emerging infectious diseases.
—
Nicole Hassoun, The Conversation, 22 May 2025
Ramaphosa came into the meeting looking to avoid the sort of contentious engagement that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy experienced during his February Oval Office visit, when the Ukrainian leader found himself being berated by Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
—Gerald Imray, Chicago Tribune, 21 May 2025
This is a flawed sin; trying to make something happen in a contentious area with a bunch of people who had their own history.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025
Last week, America welcomed the first group of South African Afrikaans refugees to the country, a move which has proved contentious.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for contentious
Nicole Hassoun, The Conversation, 22 May 2025
Ramaphosa came into the meeting looking to avoid the sort of contentious engagement that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy experienced during his February Oval Office visit, when the Ukrainian leader found himself being berated by Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
—Gerald Imray, Chicago Tribune, 21 May 2025
This is a flawed sin; trying to make something happen in a contentious area with a bunch of people who had their own history.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025
Last week, America welcomed the first group of South African Afrikaans refugees to the country, a move which has proved contentious.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for contentious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contentious
Adjective
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Nonprofits focused on such issues could be seen as antagonistic to the company’s aggressive commercialization efforts.—
Hayden Field,
CNBC,
23 May 2025
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The 82-year-old was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, the second most common cancer among men, with 1 in 8 being diagnosed in their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society.—
Sam Woodward,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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Even so, deciding what counts as a species turns out to be surprisingly difficult and highly controversial.—
Elay Shech,
The Conversation,
30 May 2025
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The appearance, and his latest announcement, appear to clear the way for the controversial deal at a time that long-time allies Japan and the United States find themselves in the middle of a trade war.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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The ceasefire plan, which has been approved by Israeli officials, won a cool initial reaction Thursday from the militant group, but President Donald Trump said Friday that negotiators were nearing a deal.—
ABDEL KAREEM HANA,
Arkansas Online,
30 May 2025
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In December, after years of stalemate in the war, Assad’s long-standing authoritarian regime collapsed, in the face of an unexpected offensive by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamist militant group once affiliated with al-Qaida.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Chicago Tribune,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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The game is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. ET and Pacers fans are sure to bring the energy and create a hostile atmosphere for New York.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 May 2025
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Some of countries in the continent that are rich in uranium, such as Niger and Gabon, may be delicate or difficult to deal with in the near term as both underwent military coups recently, with Niger turning hostile toward the French and more toward the Russians.—
Ariel Cohen,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
Adjective
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Little has been disclosed about the administration’s plan, which represents yet another salvo in President Trump’s combative push to reshape higher education, which has roiled academia, disrupted campus life and spilled into courts across the country.—
Daniel Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2025
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The public backing of Crockett, known for controversial statements and confrontational tactics, signals a potential shift toward more combative political messaging.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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The crew is under the supervision of the capable Mensah (Noma Dumezweni) who is prone to panic attacks as the group visits an irritable planet at the behest of The Corporation — a powerful business conglomerate where profit is indeed king.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
16 May 2025
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It’s said to cause people to become irritable, aggravate health problems, and abrade mechanical devices.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contentious. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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