contentious
- 01 C1 Advanced
causing a lot of angry disagreement or heated discussion between people.
likely to cause controversy or heated public debate. Often used to describe topics, decisions, or policies.
Simple“The decision to build a new road through the park was very contentious.”
In context“The proposed changes to the pension scheme remain a highly contentious issue among union members and government officials alike.”
UsageCommonly used in the phrase 'a contentious issue' or 'a contentious decision'.
SynonymsAntonymsuncontroversialagreed - 02 C2 Proficiency
describes a person who often argues or likes to start fights with others.
exhibiting an argumentative or quarrelsome nature. This sense focuses on the personality trait rather than the topic of debate.
Simple“He has a contentious relationship with his neighbors and they often argue.”
In context“The committee's progress was frequently stalled by a few contentious members who refused to compromise on even minor points.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is less common than the 'controversial issue' sense; in modern English, 'argumentative' is usually preferred for people.
SynonymsAntonymspeaceableagreeable
“Always a contentious issue, gender diversity has become particularly volatile over the past few years.”
“But the complex job goes beyond the briefing room podium to include managing contentious relationships with the press, coordinating with other parts of the White House, and providing media advice to the president.”
From Middle French contentieux, from Latin contentiōsus (“quarrelsome, perverse”), from contentiō (“contention”), from contendere, past participle contentus (“to contend”). Equivalent to English contention + -ous.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.