1. LESSON 7: THE CANTANKEROUS CLUSTER
Words Relating to Quarreling, Fighting, and Bitter Feelings

2. Animosity Hatred; ill will
Vince no longer felt any animosity toward his sister after she apologized to him.
The animosity between the North and the South led to the American Civil War.
The teammates put aside their animosities at practice to focus on the game.
Noun
Hatred; ill will

3. Antagonism Hatred or hostility
Alice expressed his antagonism toward Tom by glaring whenever he walked past.
Kyle was able to defeat his antagonist by preparing twice as hard for their next match.
During the Cold War, there was a strong antagonism between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Noun
Hatred or hostility

4. Bellicose Of a quarrelsome nature
After Parliament passed the Tea Act, a group of bellicose patriots tossed chests of tea into Boston Harbor.
The bellicose children in Lord of the Flies frequently fought amongst themselves.
Genghis Khan’s bellicose army conquered most of Asia.
Adjective
Of a quarrelsome nature

5. Belligerent Taking part in war or fighting
The belligerent nation sent its soldiers to the border to prepare for war.
Jared expressed his belligerence toward his friends by shouting angrily.
North Korea’s belligerent actions led the United Nations to impose sanctions.
Adjective, Noun
Taking part in war or fighting

6. Cantankerous Bad-tempered; quarrelsome
The cantankerous old man wouldn’t stop arguing.
My uncle complained cantankerously about the food.
Many people become increasingly cantankerous as they get older.
Adjective
Bad-tempered; quarrelsome

7. Captious
It was almost impossible for the hospital staff to please the captious patient.
Becky’s captious comments were meant to point out every little mistake her classmates made.
It can be frustrating to have a conversation with a captious person.
Adjective
Tending to find fault or raise petty objections; made for the sake of quarreling

8. Contentious Causing or likely to cause an argument; quarrelsome
Economic policy has long been a contentious issue between Democrats and Republicans.
The contentious siblings frequently argued with one another.
Many people become distressed by the contentious tone of modern politics.
Adjective
Causing or likely to cause an argument; quarrelsome

9. Disputatious Likely to argue; motivated by or causing strong opinions
The disputatious friends enjoyed engaging in debates.
There was a lot of shouting at the disputatious city council meeting.
I disagreed with my professor and responded to his assertion disputatiously.
Adjective
Likely to argue; motivated by or causing strong opinions

10. Polemical Inclined to argue; controversial
The writer wrote a polemical essay responding to the government’s actions.
The polemical students disagreed with one another on almost every issue.
The polemical play was greeted with harsh reviews upon its premiere.
Adjective
Inclined to argue; controversial

11. Predator
The predatory lending schemes of many loan companies contributed to the economic recession.
Her great wealth made her vulnerable to predators.
Wolves are major predators of smaller animals.
Noun
One who takes advantage of another; a strong adversary or rival

12. Pugnacious Eager to fight
The pugnacious boxers were ready to enter the ring.
Rob’s pugnacious nature got him into serious trouble a number of times.
Politicians today seem to have an increasingly pugancious demeanor.
Adjective
Eager to fight