contentious
Meaning: having a tendency to quarrel or dispute
Usage: George’s contentious personality made him unpopular with his classmates.
pugnacious
Meaning: quarrelsome, combative
Usage: Aaron’s pugnacious nature led him to start several barroom brawls each month.
arbitration
Meaning: the process or act of resolving a dispute
Usage: The employee sought official arbitration when he could not resolve a disagreement with his supervisor.
arbiter
Meaning: one who can resolve a dispute, make a decision
Usage: The debate judge served as the arbiter when the teams disputed the final score.
altercation
Meaning: a dispute, fight
Usage: Jason and Lionel blamed one another for the car accident, leading to an altercation.
litigant
Meaning: someone engaged in a lawsuit
Usage: When the litigants began screaming at each other, Judge Koch ordered them to be silent.