1
as in dispute
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
the seemingly imperishable controversy over the teaching of evolution
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in debate
variance of opinion on a matter
there is considerable controversy regarding the assassination of President Kennedy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of controversy
As controversies pile up, Trump allies increasingly turn on one another
The turmoil is reminiscent of Trump’s chaotic management in his first presidency, which was plagued by interpersonal drama.
—
John Nogowski, Hartford Courant, 24 Apr. 2025
The controversy alienated even our party’s most loyal supporters who felt that party bosses, not Democratic primary voters, were deciding which candidate would emerge in the general election as the Democratic nominee.
—Ken Martin, Time, 24 Apr. 2025
But Siwa was also dragged into controversy by actor Mickey Rourke, who received a warning after making a series of homophobic remarks during production.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2025
The sort-of antagonist in The Last of Us Part II first stirred up controversy when the game originally debuted in 2020.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for controversy
John Nogowski, Hartford Courant, 24 Apr. 2025
The controversy alienated even our party’s most loyal supporters who felt that party bosses, not Democratic primary voters, were deciding which candidate would emerge in the general election as the Democratic nominee.
—Ken Martin, Time, 24 Apr. 2025
But Siwa was also dragged into controversy by actor Mickey Rourke, who received a warning after making a series of homophobic remarks during production.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2025
The sort-of antagonist in The Last of Us Part II first stirred up controversy when the game originally debuted in 2020.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for controversy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controversy
Noun
-
Friends and family might be disappointed or potentially get into disputes over the wedding.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
3 May 2025
-
India and Pakistan have suspended two key bilateral agreements: the Indus Waters Treaty, a transboundary water accord; and the Simla Agreement, which calls for the peaceful resolution of disputes.—
Michael Kugelman,
Time,
3 May 2025
Noun
-
In the original post, unlike the current debate, the user set the scene and provided some constraints.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
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But Republicans refused to play ball, with no GOP members joining the debate over Hegseth’s fitness to serve and no proposals from Democrats adopted by the committee.—
Ellen Mitchell,
The Hill,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Back in January, Kerley was hit with a domestic violence charge in an unrelated incident from last year, after he was arrested following an altercation with police.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
3 May 2025
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This comes after an altercation with Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo at the conclusion of the team's playoff series.—
Matt Levine,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 May 2025
Noun
-
Jake is a single father who has brought Kristen up in the severe Calvinist tradition, marked by Bible disputations of Talmudic intricacy and by a radical detachment from secular and popular culture.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2023
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Seven decades later, this culture of disputation emerged as a central theme in Timothy Garton Ash’s The Magic Lantern, his eyewitness report on the Eastern European revolutions of 1989.—
Susie Linfield,
The New York Review of Books,
11 May 2022
Noun
-
Leaders who create space for disagreement without judgment build greater trust, psychological safety and strategic cohesion.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
-
In a landmark 1935 case, Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, the Supreme Court ruled that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt couldn’t fire a member of the Federal Trade Commission due to policy disagreements.—
Quartz Staff,
Quartz,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
While Ringo tries to insist the fight is between him and Earp, Holliday says not so fast, sir, citing a quarrel earlier in the film.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
2 Apr. 2025
-
The aftermath of the quarrel was captured on video later posted to social media by Only In Dade.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
One argument is that the impacts of even conventional AI are, in a sense, abnormal.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
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Bradford County Circuit Judge James Colaw rejected that argument in an April 27 order.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
1 May 2025
Noun
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Medicaid fight will be front and center A major point of contention is cuts to Medicaid, the federal-state health insurance program for people with disabilities and low-income adults.—
Claudia Grisales,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2025
-
Create a powerful statement that positions me against this enemy and explains why this fight matters to my audience.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Controversy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controversy. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
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