contentious issue
10
5.1
- noun
- /kənˈtɛnʃəs ˈɪʃu/
:
tema polémico
- There are at least five contentious issues associated with the implementation of drug testing programs.
- the most contentious issue
- a highly contentious issue
- address this contentious issue
But it does have a value controversy attached to it and it's a very contentious issue even to this day.
- But it does have a value controversy attached to it and it's a very contentious issue even to this day.
- So every kind of, you know, what's the word, you know, contentious issue that could get that could end up in court.
Examples
-
The figure of Iraq's outstanding debt to its fellow Arabs is a highly contentious issue.
Academic text (2001) -
Labeling of GMO products is likely to be the most contentious issue for many countries in the near future.
Academic text (2000) -
Teacher evaluation is one of the most contentious issues in the field of education.
Academic text (2015) -
Third, the future status of Taiwan could become the most contentious issue between the two countries.
Academic text (2012) -
How exactly to calculate the land use involved in wind power production is a contentious issue.
Academic text (2011) -
Marijuana policy has been a contentious issue in the United States.
Academic text (2004) -
The ethics of meat-eating are a contentious issue in discussions of global food systems.
Academic text (2015) -
Whether and how "supplemental" should be defined is one of the most contentious issues in the post-Kyoto climate negotiations.
Academic text (2000) -
In analyzing Russia's evolving relationship with the West, several contentious issues come to the fore.
Academic text (1999) -
Teacher evaluation is one of the most contentious issues in the field of education.
Synonyms
465
4.9
A long public disagreement that causes strong arguments between people
21
6.4
An issue in talks that causes disagreement and stops progress
14
4.7
An issue that makes people feel very strongly and leads to angry debate
7
5.6
A difficult issue people try to avoid or pass to others
4
5.2
A subject that causes disagreement between people
1
3.4
A subject people often argue about
1
8.9
A thing that causes an argument between people
A topic that causes strong arguments and trouble
Antonyms
How Contentious
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and compositionally built from 'contentious' (tending to provoke disagreement) modifying 'issue' (a topic or subject), so the phrase clearly means a topic that causes disagreement. This adjective+noun combination follows a standard and cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Contentious issue comes from a simple picture: imagine two people pulling at the same paper and shouting about it, with contentious meaning ready to argue and issue meaning the topic they fight about. That's why it means 'a topic that causes disagreement or heated debate'.