contentious subject
a subject which causes disagreement and controversy
TRANSLATION
contentious = bestritten, streitsüchtig, streitig, strittig, umstritten contentious issue = der Streitpunkt, strittige Angelegenheit bone of contention = der Stein des Anstoßes, der Zankapfel
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
"The Contentious French"
(Paperback - Charles Tilly - October 1989)
(Paperback - Charles Tilly - October 1989)
Did you
know?
contention
Date: 15th century. Middle English contencioun, from Old French contention, from Latin contenti, contentin-, from contentus, past participle of contendere, to contend.
1. The act or an instance of striving in controversy or debate.
2. A striving to win in competition; rivalry: The teams met in fierce contention for first place.
3. An assertion put forward in argument.
Synonyms: discord, strife, contention, dissension, conflict, clash, variance. These nouns refer to a state of disagreement and disharmony.
DISCORD is a lack of harmony often marked by bickering and antipathy: family discord.
STRIFE usually implies a struggle, often destructive, between rivals or factions: political strife.
CONTENTION suggests a dispute in the form of heated debate or quarreling: lively contention among the candidates.
DISSENSION implies difference of opinion that disrupts unity within a group: rampant dissension among the staff.
CONFLICT suggests antagonism of ideas or interests that often results in hostility or divisiveness: conflict between smoking and nonsmoking factions.
CLASH involves irreconcilable ideas or interests: a personality clash.
VARIANCE usually suggests discrepancy or incompatibility: actions at variance with his principles.
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Date: 15th century. Middle English contencioun, from Old French contention, from Latin contenti, contentin-, from contentus, past participle of contendere, to contend.
1. The act or an instance of striving in controversy or debate.
2. A striving to win in competition; rivalry: The teams met in fierce contention for first place.
3. An assertion put forward in argument.
Synonyms: discord, strife, contention, dissension, conflict, clash, variance. These nouns refer to a state of disagreement and disharmony.
DISCORD is a lack of harmony often marked by bickering and antipathy: family discord.
STRIFE usually implies a struggle, often destructive, between rivals or factions: political strife.
CONTENTION suggests a dispute in the form of heated debate or quarreling: lively contention among the candidates.
DISSENSION implies difference of opinion that disrupts unity within a group: rampant dissension among the staff.
CONFLICT suggests antagonism of ideas or interests that often results in hostility or divisiveness: conflict between smoking and nonsmoking factions.
CLASH involves irreconcilable ideas or interests: a personality clash.
VARIANCE usually suggests discrepancy or incompatibility: actions at variance with his principles.
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
