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Contentious vs Controversial - What's the difference?

contentious | controversial |

Controversial is a synonym of contentious.



As adjectives the difference between contentious and controversial

is that contentious is marked by heated arguments or controversy while controversial is arousing controversy—a debate or discussion of opposing opinions.

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

    * *

    controversial

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Arousing controversy—a debate or discussion of opposing opinions.
  • * (rfdate) Macaulay:
    • Whole libraries of controversial books.

    Usage notes

    * Nouns often used with "controversial": topic, subject, work, author, method, etc.

    Synonyms

    * contentious * contested

    Antonyms

    * uncontroversial * noncontroversial * incontrovertible

    Derived terms

    * controversialness

    Related terms

    * controversialist * controversiality * controversy * controvert * controverter * controvertible

    See also

    * disputatious * polemical * disputable * controvertible * debatable

    External links

    * *