contentious
/kənˈtɛn.ʃəs/ adjective
- adjective Marked by heated arguments or controversy.
- adjective Given to struggling with others out of jealousy or discord.
Synonyms
agonistic argumentative bangsome bellicose belligerent debateful discordant disputatious disputative factious fractious fratchety fratchy litigious logomachic pettifogging quarrelous quarrelsome rantankerous squabbly combative
Etymology
From Middle French contentieux, from Latin contentiōsus (“quarrelsome, perverse”), from contentiō (“contention”), from contendere, past participle contentus (“to contend”). Equivalent to English contention + -ous.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Fond of contention; given to angry debate; provoking dispute or contention; quarrelsome.
- adjective Relating to contention or strife; involving or characterized by contention. Spenser.
Etymology [L. contentiosus: cf. F. contentieux.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “contentious”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details