Contentious
Contentious adjective - Relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions.
Usage example: gun control is likely to be a contentious subject in any group discussion
Difficult and contentious are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Difficult" instead an adjective "Contentious".
Nearby Word: contention
Difficult
Difficult adjective - Requiring considerable physical or mental effort.
Contentious and difficult are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Contentious" instead an adjective "Difficult".
Nearby Word: difficulty
Mutual synonyms
Both words in one sentence
- Everything else, from declaring independence from Britain to slavery to deep-sea fishing rights, is contentious and even getting a simple majority is difficult.
Source: We ARE Struggling Together
Cite this Source
Difficult and Contentious. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/contentious/difficult
Contentious & Difficult. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/contentious/difficult>.
Difficult or Contentious. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/contentious/difficult.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "contentious" and "difficult" have occurred on timeline