contentious subject
English Meaning & Definitions
A topic, issue, or matter that is likely to cause disagreement, argument, or controversy between people.
- “Tax reform remains a contentious subject among lawmakers from both political parties.”
- “They wisely avoided bringing up any contentious subjects during the family dinner.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “contentious subject”.
The word 'contentious' derives from the Latin 'contentiosus', from 'contention-' (meaning 'striving, debate, dispute'), stemming from the verb 'contendere'. 'Subject' comes from the Latin 'subiectus', past participle of 'subicere' ('to throw under, place under, bring under'), evolving to mean a topic or matter for consideration. Combined, it denotes a topic that naturally brings about striving, debate, and dispute.
Think of a contentious subject as a 'tent' that causes 'tension' because everyone is arguing over what to put inside it.
Frequently Asked Questions About “contentious subject”
1. What is the meaning of “contentious subject” in English?
In English, contentious subject (noun) is defined as: “A topic, issue, or matter that is likely to cause disagreement, argument, or controversy between people.”.
2. How do you use “contentious subject” in a sentence?
“Tax reform remains a contentious subject among lawmakers from both political parties.”
3. What are English synonyms of “contentious subject”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “contentious subject”?
The word 'contentious' derives from the Latin 'contentiosus', from 'contention-' (meaning 'striving, debate, dispute'), stemming from the verb 'contendere'. 'Subject' comes from the Latin 'subiectus', past participle of 'subicere' ('to throw under, place under, bring under'), evolving to mean a topic or matter for consideration. Combined, it denotes a topic that naturally brings about striving, debate, and dispute.
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