1
as in disputes
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
the seemingly imperishable controversy over the teaching of evolution
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in disputations
variance of opinion on a matter
there is considerable controversy regarding the assassination of President Kennedy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of controversies
The Florida House unanimously passed a bipartisan bill Tuesday that would shed more light on state conservation decisions after a series of recent public lands controversies gave little room for public input.
—
Max Chesnes Herald, Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2026
Plus, shifts in attitude toward police are not always about single acts but about the weight of national controversies placed on their shoulders, Cross pointed out.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Campbell said his background, including controversies, wouldn’t be an impediment.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
With the sport beset by technical controversies this season — two Norwegian coaches were banned from these Olympics after being caught illegally altering the crotch seams of their jumpers during last year’s world championships — intrigue was immediately high.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Homan on Wednesday touted the administration’s work and sought to temper the controversies surrounding the policy.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 12 Feb. 2026
More recently, controversies like a Pokemon card game event that was originally planned to be held at a shrine to honor Japan’s war dead still triggered angry comments on Chinese social media, but no obvious broader repercussions.
—Chan Ho-Him, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Years of high-profile controversies — plea deals, pardons and investigations that feel politicized depending on who is involved — have left Americans skeptical that justice is blind.
—Kaitlyn Buss, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
The controversies that have embroiled recent British prime ministers look quaint by recent American standards.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
Max Chesnes Herald, Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2026
Plus, shifts in attitude toward police are not always about single acts but about the weight of national controversies placed on their shoulders, Cross pointed out.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Campbell said his background, including controversies, wouldn’t be an impediment.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
With the sport beset by technical controversies this season — two Norwegian coaches were banned from these Olympics after being caught illegally altering the crotch seams of their jumpers during last year’s world championships — intrigue was immediately high.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Homan on Wednesday touted the administration’s work and sought to temper the controversies surrounding the policy.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 12 Feb. 2026
More recently, controversies like a Pokemon card game event that was originally planned to be held at a shrine to honor Japan’s war dead still triggered angry comments on Chinese social media, but no obvious broader repercussions.
—Chan Ho-Him, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Years of high-profile controversies — plea deals, pardons and investigations that feel politicized depending on who is involved — have left Americans skeptical that justice is blind.
—Kaitlyn Buss, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
The controversies that have embroiled recent British prime ministers look quaint by recent American standards.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controversies
Noun
-
There were also disputes over women, Howell said.—
Sofia Saric,
Miami Herald,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The surrender of Bo Nagar, a leader of the Burma National Revolutionary Army or BNRA, in the upper-central region of Sagaing was a dramatic reminder of fractures within the armed resistance movement, which has led to sporadic clashes over control of territory and administrative disputes.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
According to him, advances in machine learning have yanked questions once trapped inside theological/philosophical disputations into corporate board packs.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
And in that spirit, three strong disagreements with these arguments.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Kramer and Fauci—their honorable disagreements, their curiosity about each other’s worldview, their good-faith debate—were the real show, all along.—
Talya Zax,
The Atlantic,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
French President Emmanuel Macron, representing one of only two states in Europe (the other being Britain) with nuclear weapons capability, is pushing for intra-European debates on reinforcing nuclear deterrence — with or without the United States.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
-
As nearly half of Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s 13 member cities have sought to leave the agency this year, throwing the system’s future into limbo, questions of how people use DART and what services the system provides have swirled alongside debates over its governance and funding.—
Mel Fronczek,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Avoid money quarrels with everyone.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
8 Feb. 2026
-
His quarrels with Massie and interest in relitigating the 2020 election seem to animate him more, too.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But there are some differences.—
Bill Center,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
-
According to the National Center for State Courts, Connecticut ranks 21st in wages for general jurisdiction judges, but that slips to 42nd once adjusted for regional differences in cost of living.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The lawsuit claims that Metcalf had a history of being involved in altercations and alleges that Ford Field should have known about Metcalf's history and failed to protect Kennedy.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Clark warned him against becoming involved in any physical altercations.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The debate over what the statute covers is playing out in the streets, with videos showing arguments between observers and federal agents about what conduct is legal and what isn’t.—
Isabelle Chapman,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
On the biggest stage — Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals — championships provide exclamation points in barstool arguments.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Controversies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controversies. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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