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

To that end, 14th attempts to interrogate a promise powerful enough to change a nation — and controversial enough to divide it for more than 150 years. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 21 July 2026

To that end, ’14th’ attempts to interrogate a promise powerful enough to change a nation—and controversial enough to divide it for more than 150 years. — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 21 July 2026

To that end, ’14th’ attempts to interrogate a promise powerful enough to change a nation — and controversial enough to divide it for more than 150 years. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 July 2026

Former head coach of the South Korean national team Hong Myung-bo faced the Korean public's wrath and resigned after controversial player decisions led to the team's poor showing. — Regina Kim, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026