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
At the end of the panel, Rose brought up AI, which has quickly become one of the industry’s most controversial and hot-button issues.
—
Matt Minton, Variety, 20 June 2026
McGinn created two chances early in the second half, sparking one with a takeaway at midfield before being taken down by another controversial El Aynaoui challenge.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 20 June 2026
The brick structure was turned into a restaurant in the 1980s and a controversial after-hours dance club in the 1990s.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2026
Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripped Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of Poland’s highest honor after Ukraine named a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a controversial World War II-era nationalist group that engaged in the mass murder of Poles.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for controversial
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Matt Minton, Variety, 20 June 2026
McGinn created two chances early in the second half, sparking one with a takeaway at midfield before being taken down by another controversial El Aynaoui challenge.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 20 June 2026
The brick structure was turned into a restaurant in the 1980s and a controversial after-hours dance club in the 1990s.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2026
Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripped Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of Poland’s highest honor after Ukraine named a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a controversial World War II-era nationalist group that engaged in the mass murder of Poles.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for controversial
Cite this Entry
“Controversial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/controversial. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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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