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
Faces of Death is director Daniel Goldhaber’s reimagining of the controversial 1978 cult horror with box office propelled by a viral marketing and PR campaign and strong word of mouth.
—
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 12 Apr. 2026
But around that time, Sequoia Capital came on board as an investor, which proved to be a controversial move for Mubi’s left-leaning subscribers, filmmakers and employees.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 12 Apr. 2026
In a potentially controversial move, the pope will also visit a prison in Bata notorious for reports of inmate torture and abuse.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2026
But those charges were put on hold and Camarena instead was allowed to undergo treatment under California’s controversial mental health diversion program.
—Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for controversial
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 12 Apr. 2026
But around that time, Sequoia Capital came on board as an investor, which proved to be a controversial move for Mubi’s left-leaning subscribers, filmmakers and employees.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 12 Apr. 2026
In a potentially controversial move, the pope will also visit a prison in Bata notorious for reports of inmate torture and abuse.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2026
But those charges were put on hold and Camarena instead was allowed to undergo treatment under California’s controversial mental health diversion program.
—Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for controversial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controversial
Adjective
-
The incident occurred during a contentious period in Minneapolis when the city was the focal point of an immigration enforcement surge and after the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal law enforcement.—
Jack Date,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
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That strategy, known as windowing, became a more contentious issue after the pandemic when some studios began to reduce the amount of time films were in cinemas before audiences could view them at home.—
Samantha Masunaga,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Bart argues that such promotion has a salutary social function, reaching people in underserved communities who might not otherwise be aware that they are entitled to aggressive, contingency-fee advocacy.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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The professional soccer player previously accused Chappell Roan's security of aggressive behavior to his 11-year-old stepdaughter.—
Sharareh Drury,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Controversial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controversial. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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