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What is another word for contentious?

Need synonyms for contentious? Here's a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead.

Contexts ▼

Causing, or likely to cause, an argument or controversy

Involving heated argument or emotions

Having a predisposition to fight or engage in confrontations

Disposed to being argumentative or quarrelsome

Hostile or adversarial in nature

Tending to stir up conflict

Of, or related to, a sect or faction, especially one that is dissenting

Arousing or able to arouse intense feeling

Of or involving strongly critical or disputatious writing or speech

… more ▼

Adjective

Causing, or likely to cause, an argument or controversy

open to question

open to discussion

yet to be decided

subject to debate

unsubstantiated

far from certain

open to suspicion

under advisement

under examination

under discussion

betwixt and between

up for discussion

bone of contention

a matter of opinion

on the back burner

between rock and hard place

not yet established

a controversial subject

between sixes and sevens

open to argument

indistinguishable

open for discussion

neither fish nor fowl

clear as dishwater

neither one thing nor the other

not yet settled

yet to be settled

in a state of limbo

in a state of uncertainty

up to the individual

a debatable point

hanging by a thread

proving nothing

resolving nothing

leaving matters open

still open to question

still open to doubt

more ❯

“For decades, insect evolution has been a highly contentious issue.”

Adjective

Involving heated argument or emotions

“It is a space where locals engage in a contentious debate over ethnic nationalism and identity.”

Adjective

Having a predisposition to fight or engage in confrontations

confrontational

ready for a fight

spoiling for a fight

have a bone to pick

have chip on shoulder

looking for trouble

passive-aggressive

having a chip on one's shoulder

itching to fight

unaccommodating

insurrectionary

stubborn as a mule

individualistic

ill-humoured^UK

having killer instinct

ready for action

more ❯

“We have always been a contentious people without any hesitation to tear down our leaders.”

Adjective

Disposed to being argumentative or quarrelsome

confrontational

ill-humoured^UK

having a chip on one's shoulder

having short fuse

hot under collar

having got out of bed on the wrong side

like a bear with a sore head

hot under the collar

on a short fuse

as cross as two sticks

having got out of bed the wrong side

easily offended

ready for a fight

have chip on shoulder

more ❯

“Although often remembered today as a divisive figure with a contentious personality, Garrison had a much different image among his closest followers.”

Adjective

Hostile or adversarial in nature

confrontational

dead set against

in disagreement with

at variance with

dissenting from

acting in opposition

ill-humoured^UK

more ❯

Adjective

Tending to stir up conflict

like a red rag to a bull

insurrectionary

insurrectionist

causing trouble

confrontational

destabilizing^US

destabilising^UK

more ❯

Adjective

Of, or related to, a sect or faction, especially one that is dissenting

Adjective

Arousing or able to arouse intense feeling

over-sentimental

emotionally moving

arousing affect

more ❯

Adjective

Of or involving strongly critical or disputatious writing or speech

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Nearby Words

contentious nature

contentiousness

contentious subject

contenting against

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