Contentious
Contentious adjective - Given to arguing.
Usage example: a tiresomely contentious person who likes to argue for the sake of arguing
Controversial is a synonym for contentious in debatable topic. In some cases you can use "Controversial" instead the word "Contentious" as an adjective or a noun, when it comes to topics like disputable. popular alternative
Nearby Word: contention
Controversial
Controversial adjective - Relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions.
Usage example: racial segregation was a controversial topic in the 1960s
Contentious is a synonym for controversial in disputed topic. You can use "Contentious" instead the word "Controversial" as an adjective or a noun, if it concerns topics such as debatable, disputable, at issue. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- questionable and contentious
- questionable and controversial
- touchy and contentious
- touchy and controversial
- uncertain and contentious
- uncertain and controversial
- quarrelsome and contentious
- quarrelsome and controversial
- disputed and contentious
- disputed and controversial
- captious and contentious
- captious and controversial
- arguable and contentious
- arguable and controversial
Cite this Source
Controversial and Contentious. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/contentious/controversial
Contentious & Controversial. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/contentious/controversial>.
Controversial or Contentious. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/contentious/controversial.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "contentious" and "controversial" have occurred on timeline