polemical

po·lem·i·cal

adjective \-mi-kəl\

Definition of POLEMICAL

1

: of, relating to, or being a polemic : controversial

2

: engaged in or addicted to polemics : disputatious

— po·lem·i·cal·ly \-mi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Variants of POLEMICAL

po·lem·i·cal also po·lem·ic \-mik\

Examples of POLEMICAL

1. <during the Middle Ages even theologians could be surprisingly polemical in their writings>
2. <an unnecessarily polemical look at the supposed incompatibility between science and religion>

First Known Use of POLEMICAL

1640

Related to POLEMICAL

Synonyms

contentious, controversial, disputatious, argumentative (also polemic), quarrelsome, scrappy

Antonyms

noncontroversial, safe, uncontroversial

Related Words

aggressive, bellicose, belligerent, combative, gladiatorial, militant, pugnacious, truculent, warlike; feisty, fractious, surly; balky, contrary, ornery, perverse, restive, wayward; disobedient, froward, insubordinate, intractable, recalcitrant, refractory; hardheaded, headstrong, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, pigheaded, resistant, self-opinionated, self-willed, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, uncooperative, unreasonable, unyielding, willful (or wilful); acidic, bearish, bilious, cantankerous, captious, choleric, crabby, cranky, cross, disagreeable, dyspeptic, fretful, grouchy, grumpy, huffy, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, irascible, irritable, peevish, pettish, petulant, querulous, rude, snappish, snappy, splenetic, testy, touchy, waspish; battling, fighting, warring

Near Antonyms

affable, amiable, amicable, benevolent, cordial, easygoing, friendly, genial, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, ingratiating, pleasant, sociable; acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, complaisant, compliant, complying, conciliatory, cooperative, obliging; docile, obedient, submissive, tractable; pacific, peaceable, peaceful