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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of controversial
Colorado had a chance to retake the lead after Salter led the offense down to the TCU 2-yard line, aided by a controversial pass interference call on Vernon Glover on third down.
—
Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2025
Why is this technology controversial?
—Wren Smetana, AZCentral.com, 5 Oct. 2025
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem spent part of Friday on the rooftop of the controversial facility, surrounded by armed agents and a camera crew, according to CNN affiliate WLS.
—Whitney Wild, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
Black Hole Skeptics Still, the idea of black holes converting mass to dark energy remains controversial.
—Rebecca Boyle, Scientific American, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for controversial
Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2025
Why is this technology controversial?
—Wren Smetana, AZCentral.com, 5 Oct. 2025
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem spent part of Friday on the rooftop of the controversial facility, surrounded by armed agents and a camera crew, according to CNN affiliate WLS.
—Whitney Wild, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
Black Hole Skeptics Still, the idea of black holes converting mass to dark energy remains controversial.
—Rebecca Boyle, Scientific American, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for controversial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controversial
Adjective
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China began conducting the contentious patrols after a February 2024 accident in which two Chinese fishermen drowned near Kinmen while fleeing from Taiwan’s coast guard.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Appointing James Bunce as performance director, having worked with him before at Monaco, was arguably the best decision of Mitchell’s short — and contentious — tenure.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Sell assets for picks and cap space and attack an aggressive rebuild this offseason.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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Control an aggressive infestation with a preemergent herbicide applied in late summer before chickweed seeds germinate.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Controversial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controversial. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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