Argumentative — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˌär-gyə-ˈmen-tə-tiv/ ar·gu·men·ta·tive

Meaning & Definition of Argumentative

Argumentative (adjective)

  1. given to argument, tending to argue, having or showing a tendency to disagree or argue with other people in an angry way, disputatious
  2. consisting of or characterized by argument

Argumentative (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. given to arguing

    "he's too argumentative to be part of a project in which teamwork is critical"

    similar: contentious, controversial, disputatious, polemical, quarrelsome, scrappy
    related: aggressive, bellicose, belligerent, combative, gladiatorial, militant, pugnacious, truculent, warlike, feisty, fractious, surly, balky, contrary, ornery, perverse, restive, wayward, disobedient, froward, insubordinate, intractable, recalcitrant, refractory, hardheaded, headstrong, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, pigheaded, resistant, self-opinionated, self-willed, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, uncooperative, unreasonable, unyielding, willful, acidic, bearish, bilious, cantankerous, captious, choleric, crabby, cranky, cross, disagreeable, dyspeptic, fretful, grouchy, grumpy, huffy, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, irascible, irritable, peevish, pettish, petulant, querulous, rude, snappish, snappy, splenetic, testy, touchy, waspish, battling, fighting, warring
    near: affable, amiable, amicable, benevolent, cordial, easygoing, friendly, genial, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, ingratiating, pleasant, sociable, acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, complaisant, compliant, complying, conciliatory, cooperative, obliging, docile, obedient, submissive, tractable, pacific, peaceable, peaceful

  2. feeling or displaying eagerness to fight

    "an argumentative gang of bullies always looking for a fight"

    similar: aggressive, agonistic, assaultive, bellicose, belligerent, brawly, chippy, combative, confrontational, contentious, discordant, disputatious, feisty, gladiatorial, militant, pugnacious, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent, warlike, on the warpath
    related: antagonistic, fierce, hostile, hot-tempered, acidic, bearish, bilious, bristly, choleric, crabby, cranky, cross, disagreeable, dyspeptic, fractious, fretful, grouchy, grumpy, huffy, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, irascible, irritable, ornery, peevish, pettish, petulant, prickly, querulous, rude, snappish, snappy, stroppy (British), surly, testy, touchy, ugly, waspish, savage, vicious, battling, fighting, warring
    opposite: nonaggressive, nonbelligerent, pacific, peaceable, peaceful, unbelligerent, uncombative, uncontentious
    near: anti-imperialist, antimilitarist, unwarlike, affable, amiable, amicable, benevolent, complaisant, conciliatory, cordial, easygoing, friendly, genial, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, ingratiating, kindhearted, obliging, pleasant, sociable, calm, quiet, relaxed, serene, tranquil, benign, gentle, kindly, mild

  3. relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions

    "a topic that sparked more than a few argumentative conversations around the watercooler"

    similar: contentious, controversial, disputatious, hot-button, polemical
    related: delicate, difficult, knotty, problematic, spiny, thorny, ticklish, touchy, tough
    opposite: noncontroversial, safe, uncontroversial
    near: incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, undeniable, unquestionable, irrefutable, uncontested, undisputed

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Argumentative

The most common words with a similar meaning to Argumentative:

contentious, controversial, disputatious, polemical, quarrelsome, scrappy, aggressive, agonistic, assaultive, bellicose, belligerent, brawly, chippy, combative, confrontational, discordant, feisty, gladiatorial, militant, pugnacious, truculent, warlike, hot-button, on the warpath

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Argumentative

Words with the opposite meaning of Argumentative:

nonaggressive, nonbelligerent, pacific, peaceable, peaceful, unbelligerent, uncombative, uncontentious, noncontroversial, safe, uncontroversial

Related Words for Argumentative

fractious, surly, balky, contrary, ornery, perverse, restive, wayward, disobedient, froward, insubordinate, intractable, recalcitrant, refractory, hardheaded, headstrong, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, pigheaded, resistant, self-opinionated, self-willed, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, uncooperative, unreasonable, unyielding, willful

Near Antonyms of Argumentative

affable, amiable, amicable, benevolent, cordial, easygoing, friendly, genial, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, ingratiating, pleasant, sociable, acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, complaisant, compliant, complying, conciliatory, cooperative, obliging, docile, obedient, submissive, tractable, anti-imperialist, antimilitarist, unwarlike

Word Forms of Argumentative

Derived words: argumentatively (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Argumentative

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Argumentative

What does "Argumentative" mean?

"Argumentative" means given to argument, tending to argue, having or showing a tendency to disagree or argue with other people in an angry way, disputatious. As an adjective, it is defined as: given to argument, tending to argue, having or showing a tendency to disagree or argue with other people in an angry way, disputatious. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Argumentative"?

Other words for "Argumentative" include contentious, controversial, disputatious, polemical, quarrelsome, scrappy, aggressive and agonistic. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Argumentative" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Argumentative"?

There are 106 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Argumentative". Common alternatives include contentious, controversial, disputatious, polemical, quarrelsome, scrappy, aggressive, agonistic, assaultive and bellicose.

What is the opposite of "Argumentative"?

Antonyms of "Argumentative" include nonaggressive, nonbelligerent, pacific, peaceable, peaceful, unbelligerent, uncombative and uncontentious. Near antonyms include affable, amiable, amicable and benevolent.

How do you use "Argumentative" in a sentence?

Examples of "Argumentative" in a sentence: "he's too argumentative to be part of a project in which teamwork is critical"; "an argumentative gang of bullies always looking for a fight"; "a topic that sparked more than a few argumentative conversations around the watercooler".

Is "Argumentative" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Argumentative" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Argumentative"?

"Argumentative" is pronounced /ˌär-gyə-ˈmen-tə-tiv/ and divided into syllables as ar·gu·men·ta·tive.

What is the origin of the word "Argumentative"?

First known use: 15th century.