We all know someone who likes to cause an argument because they derive some joy out of the drama of it all. In fact, we’ve provided a list of words and phrases that describe such a person.
So, if you’re wondering what to call a person who disagrees with everything you say just for the sake of disagreeing, you’ve come to the right place!
Words for Someone Who Disagrees With Everything You Say
- Eristic
- Contrarian
- Devil’s advocate
- Curmudgeon
- Troll
- Antagonistic
- Argumentative
- Confrontational
- Belligerent
- Bellicose
- Quarrelsome
- Provocative
- Oppositional
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- You can call someone “eristic” if they delight in causing chaos by disputing everything you say.
- A “contrarian” likes to disagree with people and say controversial things just to provoke people.
- A person who provides a counterpoint just to test someone else’s argument is playing “devil’s advocate.”
Keep reading to see how we use our top three words and phrases for someone who always disagrees with you in a couple of helpful example sentences!
Eristic
“Eristic” is a great word to describe someone who disagrees for the sake of disagreeing.
The Collins Dictionary defines “eristic” as “of, relating, or given to controversy or logical disputation, esp. for its own sake.”
In other words, the term “eristic” describes a person who is prone to arguing with others just for the funsies.
Interestingly, this word is borrowed from the Ancient Greek vernacular.
In particular, it descends from the word “eristikós” meaning “eager for strife.” You’ve probably heard of the popular figure from Greek mythology – Eris, the goddess of chaos.
Eris was said to delight in causing strife and discord among mankind (again, just for fun). In fact, she is credited as the cause of the Trojan War and many others.
Therefore, when someone argues with everything you say just because they delight in causing disputes, you can call them “eristic.” In doing so, you are essentially comparing them to this mischievous goddess.
Have a look at how we’ve used this term in a couple of example sentences:
I’ll warn you now that my uncles are highly eristic, so if you want to come over for Christmas, you’ll need to be ready for verbal warfare.
Her partner has always been quite eristic, and I think it stems from his intellectual insecurities.
Contrarian
Another word for someone who counters everything you say is “contrarian.”
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a “contrarian” is “someone such as a writer or politician who likes to disagree with other people and express opinions that are unpopular.”
Once again, you can use this word to describe a person who never agrees with you just to be provocative. They may not even care about the subject of the argument – they just love to get a reaction!
Therefore, let’s see a few examples making use of this phrase:
Ever the contrarian, my husband debated my suggestion that we try vegan meals for four hours before proceeding to eat all of the tofu once it was cooked.
Don’t bother engaging with Andrew; he’s just a contrarian who has no real interest in meaningful discussions.
Devil’s Advocate
Merriam-Webster defines a “devil’s advocate” as “a person who champions the less accepted cause for the sake of argument.”
Therefore, this is a great phrase for a person who always argues the opposite of whatever opinion you express just to be controversial and provoke debate.
Unlike the other phrases on our list, a person playing “devil’s advocate” may not be trying to frustrate you.
Sometimes, they simply bring up an alternative argument, whether they believe it or not, to test the strength of someone else’s position.
After all, making sure that you consider all sides of an issue is generally a good thing if done well and responsibly.
To see how you can use this phrase in a sentence, check out the examples below:
Let me play devil’s advocate for a moment just to see if your argument holds up.
Jordan’s friend always wants to play devil’s advocate, but he doesn’t have the skills to evoke any sound debates – he just comes across as contrary.