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 Among these trends that excite and provoke, the return of fur stands as perhaps the most controversial. Shelcy Joseph, Essence, 19 Mar. 2024 Lemon then stated that Musk smoked marijuana with Joe Rogan on the controversial podcast The Joe Rogan Show and has a ketamine prescription. Tatiana Tenreyro, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2024 And while Justice Ginsburg's concept of EQUALITY for women was very controversial for most of her life, the Foundation does not intend to enter the fray. Lauren Huff, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2024 And then there are those, like me, who entered the controversial world of giving up shampooing their hair completely. Francesca Mill, Vogue, 18 Mar. 2024 The film, originally titled Going Electric, will reportedly center around Dylan's controversial transition to the electric guitar in the '60s and his road to becoming a folk music legend, per Deadline. Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 18 Mar. 2024 Authentic licensed the title to the Arena Group, a media company then led by veteran executive Ross Levinsohn, who had a brief and controversial stint as publisher of the Los Angeles Times. Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2024 DirecTV may have a solution, albeit a controversial one. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 17 Mar. 2024 The controversial figure can no longer legally practice law in three states, online records show. Jolene Almendarez, The Enquirer, 15 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'controversial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near controversial

Cite this Entry

“Controversial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/controversial. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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
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