Definition

The quality of being likely to cause disagreement or controversy.

Example

The contentiousness of the debate made it difficult to reach a consensus.

Conversation

Did you notice how much contentiousness there was during the debate last night?

Yeah, it seemed like everyone was just trying to argue their point without listening.

I know! It really made it hard to follow the discussion.

Exactly, I prefer when debates are more about sharing ideas than just being combative.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Contentiousness → It is formed from "contentious" (from Latin "contentiosus", meaning quarrelsome or argumentative) and the suffix "-ness" (meaning the state or quality of). The word "contentiousness" refers to the state of being inclined to argue or cause disputes.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who is 'quarrelsome' ('contentious') and the '-ness' indicating a state. This helps you remember that contentiousness means the quality of being argumentative.

Visually Confused Words