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contentious

Syllabification: (con·ten·tious)

Definition of contentious

causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial:a contentious issue
involving heated argument:the socioeconomic plan had been the subject of contentious debate
(of a person) given to arguing or provoking argument:a contentious amateur politician who has offended minority groups
Law relating to or involving differences between contending parties.

Derivatives

late Middle English: from Old French contentieux, from Latin contentiosus, from content- 'striven', from the verb contendere

Definition of contentious in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words