Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Given to contention; quarrelsome. synonym: argumentative.
- adjective Involving or causing contention; controversial.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Apt to contend; given to angry debate; quarrelsome; perverse; litigious.
- Relating to or characterized by contention or strife; involving contention or debate.
- In law, relating to causes between contending parties.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Fond of contention; given to angry debate; provoking dispute or contention; quarrelsome.
- adjective Relating to contention or strife; involving or characterized by contention.
- adjective (Law) Contested; litigated; litigious; having power to decide controversy.
- adjective (Eng. Eccl. Law) jurisdiction over matters in controversy between parties, in contradistinction to
voluntary jurisdiction , or that exercised upon matters not opposed or controverted.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective Marked by heated
arguments orcontroversy . - adjective Given to
struggling with others out ofjealousy ordiscord .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective inclined or showing an inclination to dispute or disagree, even to engage in law suits
- adjective involving or likely to cause controversy
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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However, he also studies what he calls contentious (eristikos) or sophistical arguments: these he defines as arguments which only apparently establish their conclusions.
Aristotle's Logic Smith, Robin 2007
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Democrats splinter in contentious health care reform debate
White House announces press conference first on Twitter 2009
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The race to succeed Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) was contentious from the start.
Democratic National Committee transfers total $20 million Chris Cillizza 2010
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There are plenty of reasons why recording a phone call might be useful, ranging from having an exact record of what was said in contentious battles with a service provider through to making notes on work projects afterwards (a common plight for journalists).
Can You Legally Record Phone Calls In Australia? | Lifehacker Australia 2010
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The reason The Path has been so contentious is because it isn't particularly pleasant to play; it deals with some pretty uncomfortable issues, and there isn't much of a game mechanic as such.
The Path For Art Games SVGL 2009
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I also like the possibility of the DRL keeping a huge parking lot out of that certain contentious Big Box development down on Eastern Ave. Comment by Yukon
» City Council boards the DRL bandwagon • Spacing Toronto • understanding the urban landscape 2009
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Democrats splinter in contentious health care reform debate
Democrats splinter in contentious health care reform debate 2009
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Within archaeology, Mr. Binford was known as a contentious advocate for his ideas.
Archaeologist Dug Beyond Artifacts Stephen Miller 2011
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CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive - Democrats splinter in contentious health care reform debate « - Blogs from CNN. com
Democrats splinter in contentious health care reform debate 2009
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SMU Within archaeology, Mr. Binford was known as a contentious advocate for his ideas.
Archaeologist Dug Beyond Artifacts Stephen Miller 2011
maesepedro commented on the word contentious
"Thou think'st 'tis much that this contentious storm invades us to the skin", King Lear (III.iv)
December 15, 2007
100000232338334 commented on the word contentious
There was lots of conversation outside the window, most of it contentious. -Charlaine Harris, Living Dead in Dallas
December 11, 2010