1
as in contentious
relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions
tried to avoid controversial topics over the holiday dinner table
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in polemical
given to arguing
controversial by temperament, she's the sort of political attack dog who kills all hope of bipartisanship
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of controversial
Hokit is known for his controversial and larger-than-life persona in and out of the Octogon.
—
William Earl, Variety, 15 June 2026
By 2014, high-frequency trading in general had become controversial.
—Gary Sernovitz, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Reports of overcrowding, poor conditions, and controversial treatments became part of its history.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 June 2026
The collapse of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum bill last month was ugly — a worthy project undermined by controversial amendments and political maneuvering.
—Justin Shubow, Washington Post, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for controversial
William Earl, Variety, 15 June 2026
By 2014, high-frequency trading in general had become controversial.
—Gary Sernovitz, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Reports of overcrowding, poor conditions, and controversial treatments became part of its history.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 June 2026
The collapse of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum bill last month was ugly — a worthy project undermined by controversial amendments and political maneuvering.
—Justin Shubow, Washington Post, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for controversial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controversial
Adjective
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Striking a balance between releasing children to vetted sponsors and shielding them from danger has proved a contentious partisan disagreement.—
Alanna Durkin Richer,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
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Striking a balance to release children to vetted sponsors and shielding them from danger has proved a contentious partisan disagreement.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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In her account, Richmond indeed emerges as its progenitor—through his theorizing, his behind-the-scenes parliamentary and polemical maneuvering, and his patronage of Thomas Paine.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
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The slapstick titles—Crackned Horsez, To of Them, Ape Island, all 1972—further stymied any straightforwardly polemical takeaway.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
That was a fun one, with both teams staying aggressive throughout the match.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
16 June 2026
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That more aggressive posture has been exemplified in Lewis George's smaller jousts with the mayor over housing and public safety policies, too.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Controversial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controversial. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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