Synonyms of controversial

controversial

adjective

ˌkän-trə-ˈvər-shəl 

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

• contentious
• difficult
• polemical
• tough
• problematic
• argumentative
• hot-button
• disputatious
• thorny
• touchy
• knotty
• ticklish
• spiny
• delicate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• safe
• indisputable
• undeniable
• unquestionable
• noncontroversial
• uncontroversial
• incontestable
• incontrovertible
• indubitable
• irrefutable
• undisputed
• uncontested

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

• contentious
• polemical
• aggressive
• militant
• stubborn
• irritable
• argumentative
• unreasonable
• disputatious
• scrappy
• quarrelsome
• willful
• combative
• pugnacious
• resistant
• contrary
• belligerent
• rude
• warlike
• fighting
• feisty
• bellicose
• gladiatorial
• acidic
• fractious
• disagreeable
• cross
• wayward
• truculent
• surly
• intractable
• uncompromising
• ornery
• uncooperative
• balky
• perverse
• recalcitrant
• obstinate
• disobedient
• restive
• cantankerous
• irascible
• battling
• refractory
• touchy
• splenetic
• insubordinate
• peevish
• testy
• captious
• petulant
• headstrong
• obdurate
• fretful
• bilious
• unbending
• warring
• mulish
• waspish
• grumpy
• querulous
• dyspeptic
• unyielding
• snappish
• grouchy
• hardheaded
• huffy
• pettish
• froward
• choleric
• bearish
• cranky
• ill-tempered
• crabby
• pigheaded
• ill-humored
• ill-natured
• self-willed
• snappy
• self-opinionated

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pleasant
• friendly
• benevolent
• amiable
• cooperative
• gracious
• amicable
• good-natured
• affable
• easygoing
• cordial
• agreeable
• amenable
• genial
• conciliatory
• sociable
• compliant
• ingratiating
• complying
• acquiescent
• complaisant
• docile
• tractable
• peaceful
• good-tempered
• obedient
• submissive
• peaceable
• obliging
• pacific

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of controversial

Attempts to enact controversial reforms to Israeli governance in early 2023 led to unprecedented strikes and protests by Israelis, including thousands of army reservists. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 July 2026

While the initial decision to show Balogun red was controversial, the reversal was far more irregular, and suggested motives not based on competitive integrity. — Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

The latest allegations came at the weekend, when the Sunday Times reported that Farage failed to disclose gifts and payments from controversial British businessman George Cottrell, in a possible breach of parliamentary rules. — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 7 July 2026

Even the controversial inclusion of leading scorer Folarin Balogun, who started and was only marginally effective, couldn’t save them. — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2026