contentious

/kən-ˈten(t)-shəs/

Middle English contenciose "quarrelsome," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French contencieux "subject to disagreement," borrowed from Latin contentiōsus "persistent, obstinate, argumentative, quarrelsome," from contentiō "exertion, competition, contention-ous

adjective

  1. likely to cause disagreement or argument

  2. exhibiting an often perverse and wearisome tendency to quarrels and disputes

a contentious issue

belligerent bellicose pugnacious quarrelsome contentious mean having an aggressive or fighting attitude. belligerent often implies being actually at war or engaged in hostilities. bellicose suggests a disposition to fight.