CONTENTIOUSNESS Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

contentiousness

noun

Definition of contentiousness

as in aggression

an inclination to fight or quarrel his natural tendency towards contentiousness made him a poor choice for a diplomatic post

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of contentiousness Despite their contentiousness, the candidates agreed on most major policy issues. — Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 17 June 2026 Then there is the lifelong contentiousness with her mother, Marluce Martins Perry, a talented Brazilian artist who reluctantly traded her gifts and status for matrimony and child-rearing and resented her family in the wake of her decision. — A.d. Amorosi, SPIN, 4 May 2026 The theme of the contentiousness was that the Bengals didn’t have interest in offering any long-term guarantees that were a priority to the 31-year-old. — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026 Reinecke attributed some of the contentiousness to a conflict between economic development and historic preservation. — Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contentiousness

Noun

At his best, Fries flies off the ball with force and aggression.

— Alec Lewis, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
As quotas for immigration arrests increased that spring, he was asked to press felony charges for even minor aggressions against agents.

— Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of aggression

Noun

The salaries match, Strus is an expiring contract while Niko has four years left and the 3-point shooting and the aggressiveness of Max are way better than Niko’s.

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
This could bring up feelings of resentment, competitiveness or passive aggressiveness, especially if there’s been something simmering in the background.

— Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of aggressiveness

Noun

Monsoon rains repeatedly destroy their shelter, and the city offers them little beyond hostility and indifference.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Aug. 2026
While Connecticut has responded to these attacks, creating a new student loan program and funding tens of millions in research programming in lieu of federal hostility, the attacks keep coming.

— Derek Slap, Hartford Courant, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of hostility

Noun

Transport second Warning signs of heat stroke include dizziness, headache, nausea, severe fatigue, and can include confusion, combativeness or potential loss of consciousness, Casa says.

— Scott Neuman, NPR, 29 July 2026
But there is a far more important influence Dobeš can have on this series than his combativeness, and that is his puckhandling.

— Sean Gentille, New York Times, 23 May 2026

Definition of combativeness

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contentious

contentiousness

contentment

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“Contentiousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contentiousness. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of contentiousness

noun

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