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Acrimonious vs Contentious - What's the difference?

acrimonious | contentious |

As adjectives the difference between acrimonious and contentious

is that acrimonious is angry, acid, and sharp in delivering argumentative replies: bitter; mean-spirited; sharp in language or tone while contentious is marked by heated arguments or controversy.

acrimonious

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • angry, acid, and sharp in delivering argumentative replies: bitter; mean-spirited; sharp in language or tone.
  • * 2010 , , Questionable Content 1579: Visitation Rights
    • That would be a way more acrimonious custody battle than the one my parents had over me.

    Synonyms

    * rancorous

    Derived terms

    * acrimoniously * acrimoniousness

    Anagrams

    *

    contentious

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Marked by heated arguments or controversy.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=June 19 , author=Phil McNulty , title=England 1-0 Ukraine , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Ukraine, however, will complain long and hard about a contentious second-half incident when Marko Devic's shot clearly crossed the line before it was scrambled away by John Terry, only for the officials to remain unmoved.}}
  • Given to struggling with others out of jealousy or discord.

    • Synonyms

    * See also * See also

    Derived terms

    * contentiously * contentiousness

    Related terms

    * contend * contender * contention

    References

    * *