controversial

adjective

con·​tro·​ver·​sial ˌkän-trə-ˈvər-shəl How to pronounce controversial (audio)
-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 noun
controversialist noun
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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

Word History

Etymology

see controversy

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of controversial was in 1583

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Controversial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/controversial. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

controversial

adjective
con·​tro·​ver·​sial ˌkän-trə-ˈvər-shəl How to pronounce controversial (audio)
-ˈvər-sē-əl
: relating to or causing controversy
a controversial movie
controversially
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on controversial

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!