contentious

См. также в других словарях:

• Contentious — Con*ten tious, a. [L. contentiosus: cf. F. contentieux.] 1. Fond of contention; given to angry debate; provoking dispute or contention; quarrelsome. [1913 Webster] Despotic and contentious temper. Macaulay. [1913 Webster] 2. Relating to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

• contentious — [kən ten′shəs] adj. [ME contencios < L contentiosus: see CONTENTION] 1. always ready to argue; quarrelsome 2. of or marked by contention 3. provoking or likely to provoke controversy [a contentious proposal] SYN. BELLIGERENT contentiously adv …   English World dictionary

• contentious — I adjective aggressive, argumentative, bellicose, belligerent, cantankerous, captious, caviling, combative, competitive, contrary, contumacious, cross, discordant, disputatious, dissentious, factious, inimical, irascible, litigious, militant,… …   Law dictionary

• contentious — c.1500, from M.Fr. contentieux, from L. contentiosus obstinate, quarrelsome, from contentionem (see CONTEND (Cf. contend)). Related: Contentiously; contentiousness …   Etymology dictionary

• contentious — quarrelsome, bellicose, *belligerent, pugnacious, combative Analogous words: *contrary, perverse, froward: captious, faultfinding, caviling, carping (see CRITICAL): *aggressive, militant Antonyms: peaceable Contrasted words: *pacific …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

• contentious — [adj] quarrelsome antagonistic, argumentative, belligerent, combative, disagreeable, factious, perverse, petulant, querulous, testy; concepts 401,542 …   New thesaurus

• contentious — ► ADJECTIVE 1) causing or likely to cause disagreement or controversy. 2) given to provoking argument. 3) Law relating to or involving differences between contending parties. DERIVATIVES contentiously adverb contentiousness noun …   English terms dictionary

• contentious — [[t]kənte̱nʃəs[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED A contentious issue causes a lot of disagreement or arguments. [FORMAL] Sanctions are expected to be among the most contentious issues. ...a country where land prices are politically contentious. Syn:… …   English dictionary

• contentious — con|ten|tious [kənˈtenʃəs] adj 1.) causing a lot of argument and disagreement between people contentious issue/area/subject etc ▪ Animal welfare did not become a contentious issue until the late 1970s. 2.) someone who is contentious often argues… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

• contentious — adjective 1) a contentious issue Syn: controversial, disputable, debatable, disputed, open to debate, vexed 2) a contentious debate Syn: heated, vehement, fierce, violent, intense, i …   Thesaurus of popular words

• contentious — adjective Date: 15th century 1. likely to cause contention < a contentious argument > 2. exhibiting an often perverse and wearisome tendency to quarrels and disputes < a man of a most contentious nature > Synonyms: see belligerent • contentiously …   New Collegiate Dictionary