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   contentious

   /kənˈtɛn(t)ʃəs/

   adjective

   • 1. causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial: "a contentious issue" Similar controversialdisputabledebatabledisputedcontendedopen to question/debatemootvexedambivalentequivocalunsureuncertainunresolvedundecidedunsettledborderlinerare:controvertibleOpposite uncontroversial
   • ▪ involving heated argument: "the socio-economic plan had been the subject of contentious debate" Similar heatedvehementfierceviolentintenseimpassionedcommittedOpposite calm
   • ▪ (of a person) given to provoking argument. Similar argumentativequarrelsomedisputatiousdisputativeconfrontationalcaptiousfactiouscavillingpugnaciouscombativeready for a fightdefianthostileantagonisticbellicosebelligerentmilitantwarringfightingbattlingthreateninglitigiousirasciblecantankerousirritablepetulanttruculentfieryquick-temperedhot-temperedill-temperedbad-temperedcholericbickeringwranglinginformal:stroppyscrappyOpposite peaceable
   • ▪ relating to or involving differences between contending parties.

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Old French contentieux, from Latin contentiosus, from content- ‘striven’, from the verb contendere.

   Derivatives

   • 1. contentiously adverb
   • 2. contentiousness noun

   Scrabble Points: 13

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