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
But many other controversies did.
—
Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 16 June 2026
The unanimous vote stood in stark contrast to many of the county’s recent controversies, including the hiring and subsequent firing of Newton, whose short tenure became mired in questions surrounding an undisclosed past business relationship with then-Chair Chris Measmer.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 16 June 2026
College professors spend less time lecturing than a typical sportswriter creating fake controversies to criticize.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026
Schumer brushed aside questions about controversies surrounding Platner’s candidacy, instead focusing on Collins’ political vulnerabilities.
—Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 13 June 2026
Yet even before the competition opened with Mexico facing South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca, it has been marred by a number of controversies that threaten to overshadow the soccer and cloud the tournament’s legacy.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Fitzpatrick has pointed to the saloon’s string of viral controversies as a calling card in the crowded race.
—Noah Daly, Idaho Statesman, 11 June 2026
Located opposite the balcony where King was shot, the museum’s new Legacy Experience focuses, with urgency, on the modern era, with its controversies over immigration and Black Lives Matter activism.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026
Due to political controversies at home the shipments had been made mainly through third countries.
—ABC News, 9 June 2026
Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 16 June 2026
The unanimous vote stood in stark contrast to many of the county’s recent controversies, including the hiring and subsequent firing of Newton, whose short tenure became mired in questions surrounding an undisclosed past business relationship with then-Chair Chris Measmer.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 16 June 2026
College professors spend less time lecturing than a typical sportswriter creating fake controversies to criticize.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026
Schumer brushed aside questions about controversies surrounding Platner’s candidacy, instead focusing on Collins’ political vulnerabilities.
—Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 13 June 2026
Yet even before the competition opened with Mexico facing South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca, it has been marred by a number of controversies that threaten to overshadow the soccer and cloud the tournament’s legacy.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Fitzpatrick has pointed to the saloon’s string of viral controversies as a calling card in the crowded race.
—Noah Daly, Idaho Statesman, 11 June 2026
Located opposite the balcony where King was shot, the museum’s new Legacy Experience focuses, with urgency, on the modern era, with its controversies over immigration and Black Lives Matter activism.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026
Due to political controversies at home the shipments had been made mainly through third countries.
—ABC News, 9 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controversies
Noun
-
Community association disputes over requests for reasonable accommodations for emotional support animals as provided under the federal Fair Housing Act have grown to become fairly common over the last 10 years.—
Shari Wald Garrett,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2026
-
For example, the Herbert Hoover library's website emphasizes that some New Deal policies were first proposed by Hoover, while the Richard Nixon library in California was the focus of disputes over how much attention should be given to the Watergate scandal.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
18 June 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
-
Though Helen and Erik have their disagreements during the planning process, the other two Magnolias are grappling with their own issues.—
Francesca Gariano,
PEOPLE,
13 June 2026
-
Ken Griffin In one of the most notable disagreements so far, Mamdani and Griffin became entangled in drama after the mayor announced his new pied‑à‑terre tax proposal aimed at wealthier residents in the city.—
Amethyst Martinez,
USA Today,
12 June 2026
Noun
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Lawmakers in Haiti, for example, have been known to pause parliamentary debates to watch Brazil play.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2026
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Research grounded in social identity theory suggests that people frequently incorporate national attachment into their personal identity, which helps explain why debates about patriotism can feel deeply emotional rather than purely intellectual.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Rounding out the top five names were seven write-in votes for the Sacramento Capitals or Capitols — which could be nicknamed the Caps to avoid quarrels over the spelling — and six votes for the Sacramento Stingers or Sting, referencing the collegiate Sacramento State Hornets.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
4 June 2026
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In a 2024 study, researchers found that chimpanzee mothers tended to step in to defend their children in quarrels—say, over food or space in a tree—in about half of cases the researchers observed in the wild.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
10 May 2026
Noun
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By tracking subtle changes in starlight passing through WASP-121 b's atmosphere as the planet crossed in front of its star, researchers detected differences between atmospheric conditions at dawn and dusk, according to the study.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
16 June 2026
-
There may be some differences between the audio and the text.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Over the last few months, Taylor has been embroiled in a series of legal battles with Mortensen, first beginning in February with a pair of investigations by Utah police departments into allegations each made that the other acted violently during altercations that month.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
4 June 2026
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Durso alleged that Valle was upset after the previous altercations and lost his cool when his friend’s vehicle was damaged by the crowd of youths who rocked and shook the vehicle Valle and his friends arrived in.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
1 June 2026
Noun
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Partey, who pleaded not guilty to all those charges, appealed against the decision not to allow him into Canada and saw his arguments dismissed.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
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Such arguments are falling on fertile ground.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Controversies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controversies. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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