contentious
gb/kəntˈɛnʃəs/ us/kəntˈɛnʃəs/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
C1
property
1
causing disagreement or controversy
A contentious subject or decision makes people argue or disagree strongly.
Usage pattern:
[a contentious issue/topic/decision]; highly contentious
Common mistake:
Do not confuse contentious with content, meaning happy or satisfied.
Synonyms
controversial (Very close in meaning; often used for public topics that many people debate.)
|
divisive (Emphasizes that something separates people into opposing groups.)
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disputed (Emphasizes that people do not agree about whether something is true, fair, or valid.)
Antonyms
uncontroversial (Not likely to cause disagreement.)
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undisputed (Accepted as true or valid by everyone involved.)
|
settled (No longer seriously debated or argued about.)
Collocations
contentious issue
|contentious topic
|contentious question
|contentious debate
|contentious decision
|contentious proposal
|contentious legislation
|contentious claim
|highly contentious
|deeply contentious
Themes
communication
|politics
|society
|conflict
Examples
- Immigration remained one of the most contentious issues in the election.
- The board delayed a decision on the contentious proposal until next month.
- Whether to build the new road is still highly contentious among local residents.
Learner examples
- The plan is contentious because many people oppose it.
- This is a contentious topic at school.
adjective
C1
property
2
argumentative or quarrelsome
A contentious person or way of speaking often causes arguments.
Usage pattern:
[a contentious person/tone/style/relationship]
Common mistake:
For everyday speech, argumentative is often more common when describing a person.
Synonyms
argumentative (More common for a person who often argues.)
|
combative (Stronger; suggests an aggressive readiness to fight or argue.)
|
quarrelsome (Suggests a habit of starting arguments; slightly old-fashioned.)
Antonyms
agreeable (Pleasant and willing to agree.)
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conciliatory (Trying to reduce conflict and reach agreement.)
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cooperative (Willing to work with others rather than argue.)
Collocations
contentious person
|contentious colleague
|contentious tone
|contentious style
|contentious exchange
|contentious meeting
|contentious relationship
|contentious atmosphere
Themes
personality
|communication
|conflict
Examples
- His contentious tone made a routine discussion feel like a fight.
- The meeting became increasingly contentious as the deadline approached.
- She was known as a brilliant but sometimes contentious colleague.
Learner examples
- He can be contentious in meetings.
- Her email sounded too contentious.
adjective
legal
C2
property
3
involving legal disputes
In legal contexts, contentious work involves a dispute between opposing sides.
Usage pattern:
[contentious proceedings/litigation/probate/work]
Common mistake:
This legal use is specialized; in general English, contentious usually means controversial.
Synonyms
litigious (Relating to lawsuits or a tendency to take disputes to court.)
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adversarial (Emphasizes opposing sides arguing against each other.)
|
disputed (Emphasizes that a claim or right is contested.)
Antonyms
non-contentious (Not involving a legal dispute between opposing parties.)
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uncontested (Not challenged by another party.)
|
amicable (Resolved or handled in a friendly, cooperative way.)
Collocations
contentious proceedings
|contentious litigation
|contentious probate
|contentious legal work
|contentious matters
|contentious cases
|non-contentious work
Themes
law
|business
|conflict
Examples
- The firm handles both contentious and non-contentious employment work.
- Contentious probate cases often involve disputes over a will.
- She moved from drafting commercial contracts into contentious legal practice.
Learner examples
- The case is contentious because two parties disagree in court.
Grammar
Dictionary form
contentious
IPA
GB/kəntˈɛnʃəs/
US/kəntˈɛnʃəs/
Syllables & stress
con - ten - tious (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ten)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: contentious
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.