controversial
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.
controversially
adverb
Examples of controversial in a Sentence
Abortion is a highly controversial subject.
a decision that remains controversial
He is a controversial author.
Recent Examples on the Web
Michaels stood by her work in the wake of reignited criticism of the controversial reality competition series.
—
Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Oct. 2025
Spotlight on development Suarez’s attacks on Dominguez — who was elected in 2022 to succeed her life partner, Mark Samuelian, after Samuelian’s death — have zeroed in on her support for controversial development projects.
—Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
The government of Javier Milei, Argentina’s far-right leader, has enacted a controversial plan to defund the National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts (INCAA), which is the country’s national film body.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025
Wendel said his controversial view is that the regulatory landscape favors fusion over the Small Modular Reactors (SMR) for nuclear power.
—Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for controversial
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Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Oct. 2025
Spotlight on development Suarez’s attacks on Dominguez — who was elected in 2022 to succeed her life partner, Mark Samuelian, after Samuelian’s death — have zeroed in on her support for controversial development projects.
—Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
The government of Javier Milei, Argentina’s far-right leader, has enacted a controversial plan to defund the National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts (INCAA), which is the country’s national film body.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025
Wendel said his controversial view is that the regulatory landscape favors fusion over the Small Modular Reactors (SMR) for nuclear power.
—Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for controversial
Cite this Entry
“Controversial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/controversial. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
controversial
adjective
con·tro·ver·sial
ˌkän-trə-ˈvər-shəl
-ˈvər-sē-əl
: relating to or causing controversy
a controversial movie
controversially
adverb
-ē
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