adj
Uncommon
contentious
kuhn-TEHN-shuhs
Contentious (adj) means Likely to cause disagreement or heated argument. Example: “Immigration remains one of the most contentious issues in politics.”
adj
1
Likely to cause disagreement or heated argument.
"Immigration remains one of the most contentious issues in politics."
How to use contentious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes a topic or situation that sparks arguments and strong disagreement.
Common pairings
contentious issue
contentious debate
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more contentious
- Superlative
- most contentious
Fill the gap
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Immigration remains one of the most _____ issues in politics.
Etymology
From Middle French contentieux, from Latin contentiosus ("quarrelsome"), related to contentio ("contention").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for contentious
See all rhymes for contentious →Frequently asked questions
What does “contentious” mean?
The word “contentious” means likely to cause disagreement or heated argument. In plain terms, describes a topic or situation that sparks arguments and strong disagreement.
How do you pronounce “contentious”?
“Contentious” is pronounced kuhn-TEHN-shuhs (/kənˈtɛn.ʃəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “contentious” in a sentence?
Here is “contentious” used in a sentence: “Immigration remains one of the most contentious issues in politics.”
What part of speech is “contentious”?
“Contentious” is an adjective.
Where does the word “contentious” come from?
The word “contentious” comes from Latin. From Middle French contentieux, from Latin contentiosus ("quarrelsome"), related to contentio ("contention").
Is “contentious” a common word?
“Contentious” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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