polemical

po·lem·i·cal

adj \-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

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