contentious

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Sweeping contentious issues under the rug and relegating them to wanton aggravation is one major way of letting these same topics fester.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

Even issues that would go on to be more contentious within feminism and outside it—body positivity, trans rights—did crucial work.

From Slate • Mar. 31, 2026

Much like in the U.S., immigration is a contentious topic in the Dominican Republic — the country shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, which has seen an exodus of its people over the decade.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

So this remarkable, slightly contentious, comeback party is a reflection of the band's place in South Korean minds, according to music critic Lim Hee-yun.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

The actual number is slightly contentious because the heavy, synthesized elements exist for only millionths of seconds and chemists sometimes argue over whether they have really been detected or not.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson