What does contentious mean?

Definitions for contentious
kənˈtɛn ʃəscon·tentious

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word contentious.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. contentious, combative, disputatious, disputative, litigiousadjective

    inclined or showing an inclination to dispute or disagree, even to engage in law suits

    "a style described as abrasive and contentious"; "a disputatious lawyer"; "a litigious and acrimonious spirit"

  2. contentiousadjective

    involving or likely to cause controversy

    "a central and contentious element of the book"- Tim W.Ferfuson

Wiktionary

  1. contentiousadjective

    Marked by heated arguments or controversy.

  2. contentiousadjective

    Given to struggling with others out of jealousy or discord.

  3. Etymology: From contentiosus, from contentio, from contendere, past participle contentus; see contend. Confer French contentieux, corresponding to

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Contentiousadjective

    Quarrelsom; given to debate; perverse; not peaceable.

    Etymology: from contend.

    Thou think’st much that this contentious storm
    Invades us to the skin. William Shakespeare, King Lear.

    There are certain contentious humours that are never to be pleased. Roger L'Estrange.

    Rest made them idle, idleness made them curious, and curiosity contentious. Decay of Piety.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Contentiousadjective

    fond of contention; given to angry debate; provoking dispute or contention; quarrelsome

  2. Contentiousadjective

    relating to contention or strife; involving or characterized by contention

  3. Contentiousadjective

    contested; litigated; litigious; having power to decide controversy

How to pronounce contentious?

How to say contentious in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of contentious in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of contentious in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of contentious in a Sentence

  1. Donald Trump:

    Is Robert Mueller ever going to release Robert Mueller conflicts of interest with respect to President Donald Trump, including the fact that we had a very nasty contentious business relationship, I turned Robert Mueller down to head the FBI( one day before appointment as S.C.) Comey is his close friend.

  2. Chuang-tzu, On Leveling All Things:

    Great wisdom is generous; petty wisdom is contentious. Great speech is impassioned, small speech cantankerous.

  3. Alex Gansa:

    Now that the inauguration has happened, things have gotten even more contentious between Trump and the intelligence community, which is what our whole season was about crazily enough, so some of it was fortuitous and some of it was terrifying, but it is what it is.

  4. Japhter Rugut:

    The consultant and WADA’s legal experts went through the two documents, and the contentious areas were agreed upon. The documents have already been returned to us, and I hope by tomorrow afternoon the draft will be ready.

  5. James Kohm:

    At several points we walked out or threatened to walk out, it was contentious, but it was professional and adult.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

contentious#10000#27806#100000

Translations for contentious

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

  • إثارة للخلافArabic
  • свадлив, споренBulgarian
  • contenciós, controvertitCatalan, Valencian
  • sporný, diskutabilníCzech
  • omstridtDanish
  • streitsüchtig, umstrittenGerman
  • φιλόνικοςGreek
  • contencioso, controvertido, provocador, belicoso, pendenciero, camorristaSpanish
  • riidanalainen, riidanhaluinen, kiistanalainen, riitaisaFinnish
  • controversé, chamailleur, combatif, belliqueux, contentieux, querelleur, agressif, bagarreur, batailleur, provocateurFrench
  • conspóideachIrish
  • विवादास्पदHindi
  • veszekedő, vitatott, pörlekedő, vitásHungarian
  • kontensiusIndonesian
  • controverso, bellicoso, provocatore, aggressivo, contenziosoItalian
  • שנוי במחלוקתHebrew
  • 争うJapanese
  • ವಿವಾದಾತ್ಮಕKannada
  • 논쟁의Korean
  • ex contentione,Latin
  • kūraruraruMāori
  • strijdlustig, provocateur, agressief, aangevochten, vechtjas, ruziemaker, omstredenDutch
  • omstridteNorwegian
  • spornyPolish
  • conflituoso, contenciosa, controversoPortuguese
  • litigiosRomanian
  • сварливый, дискуссионный, любящий спорить, спорный, придирчивый, вздорныйRussian
  • omstridd, bråkig, omtvistadSwedish
  • சர்ச்சைக்குரியTamil
  • వివాదస్పదTelugu
  • ที่ถกเถียงกันThai
  • mücâdeleci, tartışmalı, kavgacı, çekişmeliTurkish
  • суперечливийUkrainian
  • cãi nhauVietnamese
  • פרוםYiddish
  • 争议Chinese

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"contentious." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2023. Web. 6 Jun 2023. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/contentious>.

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