belligerent, bellicose, pugnacious, quarrelsome, contentious mean having an aggressive or fighting attitude. belligerent often implies being actually at war or engaged in hostilities.

CONTENTIOUS definition: tending to argument or strife; quarrelsome. See examples of contentious used in a sentence.

Definition of contentious adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Add to word list causing or likely to cause disagreement: a contentious subject (Definition of contentious from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

A contentious issue causes a lot of disagreement or arguments. Sanctions are expected to be among the most contentious issues. ...a country where land prices are politically contentious. …

1. tending to argument or strife; quarrelsome: a contentious crew. 2. causing, involving, or characterized by argument or controversy: contentious issues. 3. pertaining to causes …

Dec 14, 2025 · contentious (comparative more contentious, superlative most contentious) Marked by heated arguments or controversy. quotations