1
as in contentious
relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions
tried to avoid controversial topics over the holiday dinner table
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in aggressive
given to arguing
controversial by temperament, she's the sort of political attack dog who kills all hope of bipartisanship
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of controversial
Michael and Robert were convicted in 2001 and 2002, respectively, but the rulings were eventually overturned due to a lack of DNA evidence and controversial questioning by police, which led some of the young men to recant their statements.
—
Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Rebman-Lopez is an outspoken and controversial member of the Keys’ Republican Party.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
At the same time, Kirk’s admirers are campaigning to get people who make negative comments about those views—which are, after all, highly controversial and designedly so—fired from their jobs.
—Louis Menand, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
Katie Couric spoofed Sydney Sweeney’s controversial denim ad to raise awareness about colon cancer.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for controversial
Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Rebman-Lopez is an outspoken and controversial member of the Keys’ Republican Party.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
At the same time, Kirk’s admirers are campaigning to get people who make negative comments about those views—which are, after all, highly controversial and designedly so—fired from their jobs.
—Louis Menand, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
Katie Couric spoofed Sydney Sweeney’s controversial denim ad to raise awareness about colon cancer.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for controversial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controversial
Adjective
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The discovery renews scrutiny of Bolton’s handling of sensitive national security information and echoes long-standing concerns first raised during a contentious legal battle over his 2020 memoir.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
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There is a contentious debate about AI in Hollywood.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Cynics may not believe the aggressive talk from the company.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
28 Sep. 2025
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And the Buckeyes are working through some kinks in an offense that turns from conservative to aggressive in random segments of the game.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Controversial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controversial. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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