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 of polemical

• controversial
• contentious
• aggressive

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

In his discussion of history, America’s War on Terror, and creative resistance, Zinn’s essays are plain spoken but polemical, challenging us to not limit ourselves and never accept the story we’re offered. —Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Dec. 2025

In the end, Larsen and Letteney make their polemical point unambiguously plain. —Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025

Hollywood has become petrified of anything close to polemical. —David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025

The White House’s approach to social media now resembles the polemical, trolling, vicious manner of posting that Fuentes and his fans helped pioneer. —Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 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