controversial

1 of 2

adjective

con·​tro·​ver·​sial ˌkän-trə-ˈvər-shəl 

-ˈvər-sē-əl

1

: of, relating to, or arousing controversy

a controversial policy

a controversial film

2

: given to controversy : disputatious

a controversial temperament

The controversial biologist caused a ferment among his colleagues.

controversialism

ˌkän-trə-ˈvər-shə-ˌli-zəm 

-sē-ə-ˌli-

noun

controversialist

ˌkän-trə-ˈvər-shə-list 

-sē-ə-list

noun

controversially adverb

controversialist

2 of 2

noun

con·​tro·​ver·​sial·​ist ¦kän-trə-¦vər-shə-list 

-¦vər-sē-ə-

plural -s

: one who engages in controversy : disputant

in his novels the controversialist often takes precedence of the artist

—B. R. Redman

Synonyms of controversial

Adjective

• contentious

Examples of controversial in a Sentence

Adjective

Abortion is a highly controversial subject.

a decision that remains controversial

He is a controversial author.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

And faces new questions over his ties to a controversial ally. — NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026

British provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos – who built his career in America through controversial public speaking that appealed to the far right, including calls for aggressive immigration enforcement – now faces deportation from the United States. — Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026

If the supervisory board rejects these controversial plans, management may call an extraordinary shareholder meeting. — Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

The county’s first roundabout, at the intersection of Tienken, Runyon and Washington roads on the Rochester/Rochester Hills border, was very controversial, Bryson recalled. — Susan Bromley, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see controversy

First Known Use

Adjective

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for controversial

• noncommercial
• commercial
• inertial
• noncontroversial
• uncontroversial

Kids Definition

controversial

adjective

con·​tro·​ver·​sial ˌkän-trə-ˈvər-shəl 

-ˈvər-sē-əl

: relating to or causing controversy

a controversial movie

controversially

-ē

adverb