tendentious
Slanted toward viewpoint
Tendentious describes writing, arguments, or speech that pushes a particular point of view, often while pretending to be neutral.
A tendentious documentary selects facts to support its thesis.
A tendentious interpretation of history serves an agenda.
The word carries a note of disapproval—calling something tendentious suggests the bias is unwelcome or dishonest.
Angled from vertical
- one-sidedUnfairly weighted toward one
- partisanBiased toward one side
- prejudicedBiased against a group
- skewedAsymmetrically shifted
distorted · partial · unfair · subjective · colored · jaundiced · weighted · loaded
Rapid rotation around axis
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
- misinformationFalse data spread unintentionally
agitprop · brainwashing · demagoguery · advocacy · campaigning · promotion · persuasion · messaging
Inclined to dispute
- contentiousInclined toward disagreement
- disputatiousFond of arguing
- controversialCausing public dispute
- provocativeMeant to provoke response
combative · confrontational · antagonistic · quarrelsome · pugnacious · belligerent · adversarial · oppositional
slanted
Angled from vertical
- one-sidedUnfairly weighted toward one
- partisanBiased toward one side
- prejudicedBiased against a group
skewed · distorted · partial · unfair · subjective · colored · jaundiced · weighted · loaded · unbalanced
spin
Rapid rotation around axis
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
misinformation · agitprop · brainwashing · demagoguery · advocacy · campaigning · promotion · persuasion · messaging · framing
argumentative
Inclined to dispute
- contentiousInclined toward disagreement
- disputatiousFond of arguing
- controversialCausing public dispute
provocative · combative · confrontational · antagonistic · quarrelsome · pugnacious · belligerent · adversarial · oppositional · contrarian
factional
Of competing subgroups
- sectarianRigidly devoted to faction
- dogmaticAsserting opinions as facts
- ideologicalRelating to belief systems
tribal · cliquish · parochial · narrow · chauvinistic · zealous · committed · aligned · loyal · affiliated
- intolerantbigoted, biased, prejudiced, discriminatory, intolerant
- biasedbiased, subjective, slanted, partisan, prejudiced
tendentiousimpartial
Showing no preference
unbiased · nonpartisan · evenhanded · balanced · fair-minded
tendentiousobjective
Purpose or goal
factual · dispassionate · even-handed · straightforward · unslanted