tending to argument or strife; quarrelsome

a contentious crew.

causing, involving, or characterized by argument or controversy

contentious issues.

Law . pertaining to causes between contending parties.

adjective

antagonistic , argumentative , belligerent , combative , disagreeable , factious , perverse , petulant , querulous , testy , disputatious , eristic , litigious , polemic , polemical , quarrelsome , scrappy , bellicose , hostile , militant , pugnacious , truculent , warlike , cantankerous , carping , dissentious , wrangling