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
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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
In Coconut Grove, Martin and Terra built or co-developed three big high-rise luxury condo projects — seven towers in all — that, while controversial among many residents, helped resuscitate what had been a senescent village center.
—
Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026
The event came to a controversial and chaotic end.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
Among his most controversial posts was sharing a video in 2024 of University of Mississippi students, nearly all of them white males, taunting a Black woman.
—ABC News, 18 May 2026
What is not controversial is that NASA needs a new spacecraft capable of relaying communications from Mars to Earth.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for controversial
Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026
The event came to a controversial and chaotic end.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
Among his most controversial posts was sharing a video in 2024 of University of Mississippi students, nearly all of them white males, taunting a Black woman.
—ABC News, 18 May 2026
What is not controversial is that NASA needs a new spacecraft capable of relaying communications from Mars to Earth.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for controversial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controversial
Adjective
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James Ward Thursday night’s California governor debate underscored just how unsettled — and contentious — the race has become, with candidates repeatedly clashing over crime, election integrity, reproductive rights, and the balance of power between state and local government.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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The most contentious and controversial being some very pointed criticisms of Ole Miss, his former school.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 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
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Gone was the meek servant child, replaced by a confident woman who remained composed during aggressive cross-examination.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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The new reality finds those legacy players, with the single exception of Disney, playing defense as tech’s flywheel spins faster, and their pursuit of TV ad dollars becomes even more aggressive.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Controversial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controversial. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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