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argumentative

argumentative

22 5.3
Often likes to disagree with other people
  • adjective
  • /ˌɑrɡjəˈmɛntətɪv/
translation icon : argumentativo
  • You are cautioned not to be argumentative unless it is truly necessary.
  • argumentative essays
  • argumentative writing
  • argumentative discourse

Narcissistic people are argumentative and can win a fight solely on the basis of endurance.

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Examples

  • At first, she was sweet and charming then for no reason at all she became argumentative.

  • It's good for someone as argumentative as I am to know all the information.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Now see, l feel like that sounds kind of argumentative.

  • Belle can be as argumentative as she is beautiful.

  • I've been told she was very argumentative.

  • So, you know, it was a noisy, argumentative, feisty sort of upbringing.

  • The findings reveal that using argumentative scripts for teacher guidance led to more in-depth argumentation.

    Academic text (2015)
  • The Level 5 course was a transfer-level freshman composition course emphasizing expository and argumentative essay writing.

    Academic text (2008)
  • His argumentative approach to discussions often led to heated debates with his colleagues.

  • She tends to be argumentative, constantly challenging every opinion shared during meetings.

Synonyms

contentious
vsargumentative
62 7.4

Causing people to disagree or argue

focuses more on the personal tendency to start or join arguments
confrontational
vsargumentative
36 7.0

Showing anger and wanting to argue with others

is less about aggression and more about tendency to provoke debate
combative
vsargumentative
31 6.1

Being ready to argue or fight

is broader, covering arguing or causing debate, not only readiness to fight
belligerent
vsargumentative
26 7.5

Being ready to argue or fight

focuses on provoking disagreement or debate rather than physical hostility
bellicose
vsargumentative
  • Formal
7 8.8

Showing a wish to argue or fight

is less about open aggression and more about starting verbal disagreements
pugnacious
vsargumentative
4 8.8

Quick to argue or fight, often over small things

emphasizes causing disagreement or debate rather than eagerness to fight
quarrelsome
vsargumentative
3 7.8

Likely to argue or fight with other people

is about being likely to cause or express disagreement, not only frequency
disputatious
vsargumentative
1 9.8

Often likes to argue with other people

is broader, meaning likely to start or cause arguments in general
disputative
vsargumentative
8.6

Often ready to argue with people

is more general, referring to causing or joining disagreements overall
eristical
vsargumentative
  • Formal
9.9

To argue just for the sake of arguing, often with weak reasons

is more simply a tendency to cause or express disagreement broadly

Antonyms

428 1.0

Calm and quiet, without noise or trouble

20 7.7

Showing a wish to calm people and reduce tension

17 3.3

Ready to say yes to an idea or request

Not ready to disagree or fight with others

How Argumentative

belligerent
26 7.5
quarrelsome
3 7.8
argumentative
22 5.3
contentious
62 7.4
calm
735 1.0
agreeable
17 3.3

Surface Forms

argumentative positive

Morphology

argumentative = argument (transparent) = argument + ative

The adjective is directly formed from the noun 'argument' with the productive suffix '-ative', giving the sense 'tending to argue'.

Etymology

Argumentative comes from the simple word argument and the verb argue, from a Latin root meaning 'to show' or 'to prove'. So someone who is argumentative often gives reasons or tries to 'prove' their point, which is why the word means 'tending to argue'.