controversial

1 of 2

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.

controversialism

ˌkän-trə-ˈvər-shə-ˌli-zəm 

-sē-ə-ˌli-

noun

controversialist

ˌkän-trə-ˈvər-shə-list 

-sē-ə-list

noun

controversially adverb

controversialist

2 of 2

noun

con·​tro·​ver·​sial·​ist ¦kän-trə-¦vər-shə-list 

-¦vər-sē-ə-

plural -s

: one who engages in controversy : disputant

in his novels the controversialist often takes precedence of the artist

—B. R. Redman

Synonyms of controversial

Adjective

• contentious

Examples of controversial in a Sentence

Adjective

Abortion is a highly controversial subject.

a decision that remains controversial

He is a controversial author.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

About 20 years ago, Hazleton passed the controversial Illegal Immigration Relief Act, which withheld permits from businesses employing undocumented immigrants and fined landlords who rented to them. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026

Among Steinbeck purists, giving Cathy a trauma backstory has proven a controversial move — one that just might turn the story’s main moral on its head. — Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026

Officers are said to have arrived within minutes of receiving an alert via ShotSpotter, a controversial gunshot detection system that relies on artificial intelligence and a network of microphones to identify gunshots. — Jacqueline Ganun, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026

Set in 1969, the film follows how rising media tycoon Rupert Murdoch acquires UK newspaper The Sun and how his partnership with editor Larry Lamb (O’Connell) turns the paper into Britain’s most influential and at-times controversial tabloid. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see controversy

First Known Use

Adjective

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for controversial

• noncommercial
• commercial
• inertial
• noncontroversial
• uncontroversial

Kids Definition

controversial

adjective

con·​tro·​ver·​sial ˌkän-trə-ˈvər-shəl 

-ˈvər-sē-əl

: relating to or causing controversy

a controversial movie

controversially

-ē

adverb