polemical

adjective

po·​lem·​i·​cal pə-ˈle-mi-kəl 

variants or less commonly polemic

pə-ˈle-mik 

1

: of, relating to, or being a polemic : controversial

2

: engaged in or addicted to polemics : disputatious

polemically

pə-ˈle-mi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• controversial
• contentious
• aggressive
• militant

Examples of polemical in a Sentence

during the Middle Ages even theologians could be surprisingly polemical in their writings

an unnecessarily polemical look at the supposed incompatibility between science and religion

Recent Examples on the Web

Everyone’s got a polemical opinion. —Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025

Soon, Roy broadened her political critique to include commentary on United States policy, and her polemical essays became as recognizable (and as controversial) as her fiction. —Anderson Tepper, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2025

This book is exactly the kind of radical pamphlet Zinn cites as an essential American form: polemical ideas, plainly written, and published in simple, short volumes that are easily shared and easily hidden away. —James Folta, Literary Hub, 30 July 2025

Hernández’s humor has never been political or polemical. —Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for polemical

• alchemical
• academical
• agrochemical
• biochemical
• cytochemical
• geochemical
• histochemical
• microchemical
• neurochemical
• petrochemical
• photochemical
• phytochemical