contentious situation

USAGE SUMMARY

"contentious situation" is correct and usable in written English.
It refers to a situation that is full of disagreement and argument. For example, "The contentious situation between the two countries has been ongoing for many years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The chaotic, contentious situation here yielded less than Mr. Obama and his allies had hoped.

The New York Times

"They've built up years' worth of connections with federal lawmakers, and that counts for something, when you know the people who are waiting for you on the other side of that door in a contentious situation," he said.

The New York Times

Pietersen, for all his brilliance down the years, has largely created his own reputation for extreme subjectivity, a near genius for seeing every contentious situation in which he has found himself entirely through the prism of his own injured feelings.

Independent

The parties involved were able to overcome this contentious situation by creating an environment for consultation and discussion between public and private entities.

European Transport Research Review

The process outlined was successful in resolving a previously contentious situation by inclusion and collaboration with the Aleuts, among others, and could be usefully applied elsewhere to complex environmental problems where severe data gaps exist.

Environmental Research

Rajoub and Eini then shook hands, defusing a contentious situation.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

"If you look at the proxy pipeline, he's involved with a bunch of contentious situations".

The New York Times

Given the way his England tenure became embroiled, eventually to crash and burn, in events surrounding John Terry, you may think he would want to avoid contentious situations in his new role as head coach of Russia.

The Guardian - Sport

"By that I mean more contentious situations where the ball has gone out of play and the goalkeeper is wasting time or someone goes down feigning injury, or the ball rolls off the pitch and the manager pretends to pick it up and misses it.

The Guardian - Sport

Parliamentary enclosure was used as a particularly formal type of enclosure in the most complex or contentious situations.

Journal of Historical Geography

He gave concrete examples of how to defuse tense interactions and maintain productive relationships in contentious situations in the science workplace.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the nature of a disagreement, specify what aspects of the "contentious situation" are causing conflict. This helps to provide a clearer understanding to the audience.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the "contentious situation" with overly dramatic adjectives. Instead, provide factual details that demonstrate the source and intensity of the disagreement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contentious situation" functions as a noun phrase, where 'contentious' modifies the noun 'situation'. It is often used as the subject or object of a sentence to describe a specific state of affairs characterized by disagreement and conflict. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "contentious situation" effectively describes a scenario marked by disagreement and conflict. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While not extremely common, it is frequently found in news and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, be sure to provide specific details about the conflict to enhance clarity. Alternative phrases like ""polemical situation"" or ""debatable situation"" can be used depending on the nuances you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contentious scenario

Replaces 'situation' with 'scenario', maintaining the same meaning.

polemical situation

Emphasizes the argumentative and often controversial nature of the situation.

debatable situation

Highlights that the situation is open to discussion and disagreement.

conflictual situation

Focuses on the presence of conflict or clashing interests.

sensitive situation

Implies the situation requires careful handling to avoid causing offense or problems.

divisive situation

Indicates the situation is causing separation or disagreement among people.

confrontational situation

Suggests a situation likely to lead to direct opposition or conflict.

contentious standoff

Highlights the aspect of deadlock or stalemate in the contentious situation.

thorny situation

Uses a metaphor to describe the situation as complex and difficult to resolve.

contentious environment

Shifts the focus from a single event to an overall atmosphere of disagreement.

FAQs

How can I use "contentious situation" in a sentence?

You can use "contentious situation" to describe a scenario filled with disagreement and argument. For example: "The negotiation became a "contentious situation" when both parties refused to compromise".

What are some alternatives to "contentious situation"?

Alternatives include "polemical situation", "debatable situation", or "sensitive situation". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "contentious situation" formal or informal?

"Contentious situation" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, it is more commonly found in news articles and professional documents than casual conversation.

What makes a situation "contentious"?

A situation is "contentious" when there is strong disagreement, argument, or dispute involved. This often arises when there are conflicting interests, values, or beliefs.