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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in polemical
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of controversial
Doctor and controversial wellness guru Peter Attia is exiting CBS News after his ties to Jeffrey Epstein have come to light.
—
Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
Tiger Finance has provided the plus-size retailer with a $15 million revolving credit facility, boosting the company’s liquidity after a controversial change in ownership last year.
—Evan Clark, Footwear News, 23 Feb. 2026
The controversial law, Assembly Bill 218, has led to thousands of claims over abuse that took place in schools, juvenile halls and foster homes.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
Married couple Madison Chock and Evan Bates, on the Olympic stage for perhaps the final time, will get one more chance to show why the scoring in the ice dance event was so controversial.
—Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for controversial
Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
Tiger Finance has provided the plus-size retailer with a $15 million revolving credit facility, boosting the company’s liquidity after a controversial change in ownership last year.
—Evan Clark, Footwear News, 23 Feb. 2026
The controversial law, Assembly Bill 218, has led to thousands of claims over abuse that took place in schools, juvenile halls and foster homes.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
Married couple Madison Chock and Evan Bates, on the Olympic stage for perhaps the final time, will get one more chance to show why the scoring in the ice dance event was so controversial.
—Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for controversial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controversial
Adjective
-
There was nothing contentious about that first booking.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
27 Feb. 2026
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In her first year at the job, Tuttle was broadly praised for her efforts to foster an open and respectful debate on Gaza and other contentious political issues.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Colleges and universities nationwide continue to grapple with polemic issues associated with the fair treatment of individuals of differing backgrounds, political persuasions, and sexuality.—
Blake D. Morant,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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This kind of depravity, licentiousness and polemical theatrics has no place on such a traditional and once wholesome presentation of the coming of a new year in our great nation and especially on the eve of the 250th anniversary of the greatest experiment in democracy and freedom in history.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The recent turmoil is testing some of the foundations that powered private credit’s rapid growth, including aggressive underwriting, highly leveraged middle-market borrowers and the promise of stable capital insulated from bank-style runs.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Belt-Stubblefield did not take aggressive action and tried to walk away.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Controversial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controversial. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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