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
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Recent Examples of controversial
Seven of the last remaining patients remained there voluntarily, but Perryman was forced to stay as the result of a controversial quarantine order that was deemed unnecessary even by some health officials.
—
Josh Funk, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2026
One of the most controversial parts of the rule is the criteria players must meet to be eligible.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 22 June 2026
The praise for Charlie Kirk proved controversial among some Benjamin students.
—Eliza Griswold, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
The 47-year-old made his name—and much of his fortune—as a high-profile criminal defense lawyer representing controversial clients.
—John Otis, NPR, 21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for controversial
Josh Funk, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2026
One of the most controversial parts of the rule is the criteria players must meet to be eligible.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 22 June 2026
The praise for Charlie Kirk proved controversial among some Benjamin students.
—Eliza Griswold, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
The 47-year-old made his name—and much of his fortune—as a high-profile criminal defense lawyer representing controversial clients.
—John Otis, NPR, 21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for controversial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controversial
Adjective
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Republicans decry fraud while Democrats worry about hunger SNAP’s new rules remain contentious in Congress.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
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This has proven to be a contentious change for myriad reasons.—
Ryan Whitwam,
ArsTechnica,
18 June 2026
Adjective
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In her account, Richmond indeed emerges as its progenitor—through his theorizing, his behind-the-scenes parliamentary and polemical maneuvering, and his patronage of Thomas Paine.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
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The slapstick titles—Crackned Horsez, To of Them, Ape Island, all 1972—further stymied any straightforwardly polemical takeaway.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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Grey-zone tactics refer to a range of aggressive tactics that vary from navy ship patrols to drone flights, but fall short of direct combat.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 June 2026
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That will be decided in the coming hours, as the Heat remains in aggressive pursuit of a trade for Antetokounmpo.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
22 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Controversial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controversial. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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