adj.

1. Given to contention; quarrelsome. See synonyms at argumentative, belligerent.
2. Involving or likely to cause contention; controversial: “a central and contentious element of the book” (Tim W. Ferguson).

contentiously con·ten'tious·ly adv.
contentiousness con·ten'tious·ness n.

adjective

1. Given to arguing: argumentative, combative, disputatious, eristic, litigious, polemic, polemical, quarrelsome, scrappy. See conflict/cooperation.
2. Having or showing an eagerness to fight: bellicose, belligerent, combative, hostile, militant, pugnacious, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent, warlike. See attack/defend.
3. Inclined to act in a hostile way: aggressive, belligerent, combative, hostile, militant. See attack/defend, attitude/good attitude/bad attitude/neutral attitude.

IN BRIEF: Argumentative; quarrelsome.

Alex was in a contentious mood when he came home from school.

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The adjective has 3 meanings:

Meaning #1: inclined or showing an inclination to dispute or disagree, even to engage in law suits
  Synonyms: disputatious, disputative, litigious

Meaning #2: involving or likely to cause controversy

Meaning #3: having or showing a ready disposition to fight
  Synonyms: battleful, bellicose, combative

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Dansk (Danish)
adj. - stridbar, omstridt

Nederlands (Dutch)
controversieel, twistziek

Français (French)
adj. - querelleur, discuteur (sout), controversé

Deutsch (German)
adj. - strittig, kontrovers, streitsüchtig

Ελληνική (Greek)
adj. - εριστικός, καβγατζής, διεκδικούμενος

Italiano (Italian)
controverso, litigioso

Português (Portuguese)
adj. - contencioso, contencioso (Jur.)

Русский (Russian)
спорный, задиристый

Español (Spanish)
adj. - conflictivo, controversial, contencioso, discutible

Svenska (Swedish)
adj. - stridslysten, omtvistad

中文（简体） (Chinese (Simplified))
好争吵的, 有异议的, 爱争论的

中文（繁體） (Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 好爭吵的, 有異議的, 愛爭論的

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 다투기를 좋아하는 , 논쟁적인, 경쟁의

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. - 争いを好む, 議論のある, 係争の

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(صفه) لجوج, ميال للجدل‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮וכחני, פולמוסי‬

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