"Contentious" ultimately derives from the Latin verb "contendere," meaning "to strive" or "to contend." But we won't make you work hard for (or argue about) synonyms for "contentious." "Belligerent," "bellicose," "pugnacious," and "quarrelsome" can all be used, in addition to "contentious," when you want to express ...

What is the root of contentious?

contentious (adj.)

1500, "quarrelsome, apt to contend," from Latin contentiosus "obstinate, quarrelsome," from contentionem (nominative contentio) "a vigorous struggling, a contest, a fight," noun of action from past-participle stem of contendere (see contend).

What makes a person contentious?

A contentious issue is one that people are likely to argue about, and a contentious person is someone who likes to argue or fight. Some issues are very controversial. They're also contentious, because people tend to argue about them, and the arguments will probably go on forever.