What is the word for someone who disagrees for the sake of it?

Asked by: Braden Mohr  |  Last update: January 21, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (49 votes)

Descriptors for such dissenters include contradictor, dissenter, opposer, disputant, objector, maverick, skeptic, faultfinder, and nitpicker. These terms highlight different aspects of disagreement, from sparking critical thought to seeking flaws.

What do you call someone who disagrees for the sake of it?

argumentative. (ɑrgyəmɛntətɪv ) adjective. Someone who is argumentative is always ready to disagree or start arguing with other people.

What do you call a person who always disagrees?

Disputatious may refer to your friend's tendency to disagree with every plan you make, but can also take the meaning “marked by disputation (verbal controversy)” or “provoking debate.” Disputatious (and dispute) comes from the Latin disputare, which simply means “to discuss.”

What is the word for arguing for the sake of it?

The person doing the arguing can also be called an eristic: "It makes me mad when that eristic wins his debates with his false arguments." The Greek root word is eris, "strife or discord." Definitions of eristic. adjective. given to disputation for its own sake and often employing specious arguments. synonyms: ...

What do you call someone who argues for the sake of arguing?

Argumentative is the most obvious. Then there is cantankerous, polemic, belligerent, combative, confrontational, truculent, pugnacious, and the simplest being quarrelsome. (person) controversialist, disputant, polemicist.

How to… disagree

42 related questions found

What is an eristic person?

Eristic means "argumentative as well as logically invalid." Someone prone to eristic arguments probably causes a fair amount of strife amongst his or her conversational partners.

What is another word for argumentative person?

combative, contentious, disputatious, disputative, litigious. inclined or showing an inclination to dispute or disagree, even to engage in law suits. eristic, eristical. given to disputation for its own sake and often employing specious arguments.

What do you call someone who provokes arguments?

noun. plural provocateurs [pr, uh, -vok-, uh, -, turz, -, toorz, p, r, aw-vaw-k, a, -, tœr]. a person who provokes trouble, causes dissension, or the like; agitator.

What is a synonym for conflicting argument?

animosity, antagonism, argument, bickering, clash, conflict, controversy, debate, difference, discord, dissent, disunity, division, feud, fight, friction, hostility, misunderstanding, opposition, spat, split, squabble, strife, tension, wrangle.

What is a synonym for eristic?

Recent Examples of Synonyms for eristic. irrational. specious. illogical. unreasonable.

What type of person disagrees with everything you say?

A person with an oppositional conversation style is a person who always corrects, disputes, or argues with your input. This type of communication can appear in combative and aggressive arguments, but it can also emerge in friendly conversations as passive contradictions and dismissing comments.

What do you call someone who contradicts everything you say?

A person with oppositional conversational style is a person who, in conversation, disagrees with and corrects whatever you say.

How to deal with someone who always disagrees?

Respectful and nonjudgmental communication
  1. Separate the person from the problem.
  2. Keep your own emotions out of it.
  3. Point out common ground.

What is another word for someone who disagrees?

Other adjectives that can modify the person or their views: oppositional, opposing, clashing, conflicting, incompatible, irreconcilable, disagreeable, uncooperative obstructive, mulish, pigheaded, intractable, recalcitrant, perverse.

How to shut a person who always wants to argue?

Instead, you can use these 4 methods that I use to shut them down when they try to enter a fight mode with me.
  1. Say something neutral. ...
  2. Control your emotions and withdraw. ...
  3. Give them what they want without giving it to them. ...
  4. Don't ask for their opinion or give yours.

What causes an argumentative personality?

Past experiences: Previous experiences of conflict, trauma, or interpersonal challenges can shape individuals' attitudes and behaviours, influencing their propensity for argumentation. Traumatic experiences or unresolved conflicts may lead to heightened sensitivity, defensiveness, or aggression in future interactions.

What is it called when two people don't agree on something?

bicker, clash, contend, differ, dissent, divide, feud, haggle, object, oppose, quarrel, quibble, spar, wrangle.

What is the word for arguing for the sake of arguing?

Arguendo is a Latin term meaning "in arguing" or "for the sake of argument". When one assumes something arguendo , the person is asserting a hypothetical statement to be true for the purpose of argument, regardless of whether that statement is actually true or whether they believe it to be true.

What is a synonym for opposing conflicting?

adverse antagonistic clashing contrary incompatible inconsistent opposing paradoxical. Strong match. opposed.

How do I shut someone down in an argument?

Here are four simple statements you can use that will stop an argument 99 percent of the time.
  1. “Let me think about that.” This works in part because it buys time. ...
  2. “You may be right.” This works because it shows willingness to compromise. ...
  3. “I understand.” ...
  4. “I'm sorry.” ...
  5. “Can we take a break and revisit this later?”

What do you call a person who stirs up conflict?

We would probably call them a 'stirrer' — meaning they stir up conflict or resentment in a situation, or between people.

What do you call a person who holds controversial opinions?

The word controversialist may be relevant; wiktionary defines this as “One who regularly engages in public controversies” and offers the example “Richard Dawkins has become a leading controversialist in a few areas.”

What is a synonym for deliberately controversial?

  • contentious.
  • aggressive.
  • polemic.
  • polemical.
  • militant.
  • stubborn.
  • irritable.
  • argumentative.

What is another word for eristic?

eristic is another word for scrappy

✅ Scrappy is a pretty informal word, whereas eristic is both uncommon and formal. Split the difference with words like argumentative and contentious!

What is another word for conflict or argument?

Some common synonyms of conflict are contention, discord, dissension, strife, and variance.