How to Use contentious in a Sentence

contentious

adjective
Definition of contentiousnext
Synonyms for contentiousnext
  • The dispute involves one of the region's most contentious leaders.
  • After a contentious debate, members of the committee finally voted to approve the funding.
  • The run-up to the vote was contentious and the aftermath has been, too.
    — Rachel Janfaza, Teen Vogue, 13 Mar. 2019
  • The brawl became one of the day’s most contentious moments.
    — oregonlive, 12 Sep. 2019
  • The appointment process turned contentious from the start.
    — San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2023
  • The discussion over the park at times grew contentious.
    — Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 3 May 2017
  • Shoes have been a contentious topic throughout the ages.
    — Katharine K. Zarrella, WSJ, 5 Nov. 2022
  • That will likely remain the most contentious issue in the courts.
    — Ed Kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, 25 Sep. 2017
  • One of the most contentious issues was the fate of Mr. al-Bashir.
    — New York Times, 25 Oct. 2021
  • After all, many of the contentious bills had already been heard and passed.
    — Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2019
  • Which means one of the most fraught disputes in the world could become even more contentious very soon.
    — Alex Ward, Vox, 5 Aug. 2019
  • The move could prove contentious and trigger a court battle.
    — Joshua Emerson Smith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2022
  • The Power of the Dog at a key point in this year's contentious awards race.
    — Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 20 Mar. 2022
  • The ninth is contentious and spreading out is my advice.
    — Rick Lee, Arkansas Online, 20 Mar. 2021
  • Even with his backing, there was a contentious floor voice vote.
    — Harry Enten, CNN, 15 May 2018
  • Boudin later won the contentious election for his seat.
    — Trisha Thadani, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 May 2021
  • Green had been held to one reception for six yards in a contentious first half.
    — Paul Dehner Jr., Cincinnati.com, 5 Nov. 2017
  • What's a girl going through a contentious divorce to do?
    — Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 2 Oct. 2023
  • The contentious debate on how to accomplish that now moves to the full House.
    — Brian Maffly, The Salt Lake Tribune, 17 Feb. 2022
  • Mask-wearing has been a contentious issue on planes over the past two years.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN, 19 Mar. 2022
  • The weeks heading into the election have been contentious.
    — Corey Williams, Detroit Free Press, 27 Oct. 2020
  • They were embroiled in a contentious divorce and child custody case for the past two years.
    — Doha Madani, NBC News, 26 July 2019
  • The former couple have been in a contentious divorce battle for the past year.
    — Christina Maxouris, CNN, 12 Mar. 2022
  • This could easily be the closest (and most contentious) match of the first round.
    — Rasputin Todd, The Enquirer, 12 Mar. 2023
  • My current home rests a block from the most contentious point of what was the Berlin Wall.
    — Tessa Love, Longreads, 8 Nov. 2019
  • The fifth starting lineup spot is perhaps the most contentious.
    — Shreyas Laddha, Hartford Courant, 7 June 2022
  • Masking has been a contentious issue around us for a year-and-a-half.
    — Washington Post, 23 Sep. 2021
  • The plan to mandate vaccines for school staff is likely to be much less contentious.
    — Catherine Ho, San Francisco Chronicle, 16 Sep. 2021
  • Her win capped the most contentious RNC race in two decades.
    — David Jackson, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2023
  • This debate has turned contentious among the many birders on — where else?
    — BostonGlobe.com, 1 Apr. 2021

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'contentious.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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