Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

contentious

 - 2 dictionary results

con⋅ten⋅tious

  [kuhn-ten-shuhs]
Use contentious in a Sentence
–adjective
1. tending to argument or strife; quarrelsome: a contentious crew.
2. causing, involving, or characterized by argument or controversy: contentious issues.
3. Law. pertaining to causes between contending parties.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME contenciose < L contentiōsus, equiv. to contenti(ō) contention + -ōsus -ous

Related forms:
con⋅ten⋅tious⋅ly, adverb
con⋅ten⋅tious⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. disputatious, argumentative.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To contentious
con·ten·tious   (kən-těn'shəs)   
adj.  

  1. Given to contention; quarrelsome. See Synonyms at argumentative, belligerent.

  2. Involving or likely to cause contention; controversial: "a central and contentious element of the book" (Tim W. Ferguson).

con·ten'tious·ly adv., con·ten'tious·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see contentious on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way