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
Among the controversial bills this session are measures regarding union fees, artificial intelligence regulation and a bill to tax pot based on its potency.
—
Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
But efforts to champion tenant protections hit a major snag Tuesday when a controversial rent control proposal died in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
—Calmatters, Oc Register, 14 Jan. 2026
Elon Musk is full of bold predictions, but none may be as controversial as his conclusion that a longer human lifespan is something that can be engineered.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
Over the next 120 days, legislators will navigate controversial scrutiny and funding cuts from the federal government, ongoing cost-of-living pressures, and a Democratic caucus internally roiled by dark money and public sniping.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for controversial
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Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
But efforts to champion tenant protections hit a major snag Tuesday when a controversial rent control proposal died in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
—Calmatters, Oc Register, 14 Jan. 2026
Elon Musk is full of bold predictions, but none may be as controversial as his conclusion that a longer human lifespan is something that can be engineered.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
Over the next 120 days, legislators will navigate controversial scrutiny and funding cuts from the federal government, ongoing cost-of-living pressures, and a Democratic caucus internally roiled by dark money and public sniping.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 14 Jan. 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 17 Jan. 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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