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controversies

noun

plural of controversy
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of controversies In recent months, OpenAI has become faster at responding to public controversies. — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026 The vote will occur amid a collection of controversies and arrives at the end of a summer that has cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. — Josh Bergeron, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2026 While gaining a seat in Texas has long been a far-off dream for Democrats, Paxton’s controversies have dogged him during the race. — Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026 Max weathered various controversies in his personal and professional life. — Beth J. Harpaz The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026 These aren’t breaking revelations for what is — for a certain generation, at least — one of the late 20th century’s most shocking and widely-discussed controversies. — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026 The Sunderland penalty against Arsenal (and indeed various other controversies at the Stadium of Light on Saturday)? — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026 International Boxing Association controversies Under Kremlev, the IBA faced extraordinary controversy. — ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026 The study also took into account FIRE’s assessment of campus speech policies and how schools responded to speech controversies. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controversies
  1. disputes
  2. disputations
  3. disagreements
  4. debates
  5. quarrels
  6. differences
  7. altercations
  8. arguments
Noun
  • The June agreement collapsed after disputes over the memo's vague wording, including language related to who would control the strait.
    — Ava Pukatch, NPR, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Makary's time at the agency was defined by scientific disputes, leadership changes and a string of media stories detailing low morale and internal dysfunction among staffers.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of disputes
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
Definition of disputations
Noun
  • The organization believes some of these conversations and disagreements among board members are drawing time and attention away from students, many of whom are Hispanic and come from Spanish-speaking backgrounds.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Told through Paula’s perspective, the story delves into the relationship between the two athletes, exploring the challenges, disagreements, and partnership that helped shape one of the most successful eras in Brazilian sports.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of disagreements
Noun
  • Since the drama over debates erupted last week, Jolly’s position appears to have evolved into an ideological one — and a view that almost no other candidate on the Democratic ticket has publicly agreed with.
    — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026
  • California’s 176-page voter guide is dense with ballot measure legalese, policy debates and obscure candidates for statewide office.
    — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of debates
Noun
  • Unlike Christian priests and medicine men, who generally command respect, rainmakers are sometimes seen as malicious people who retaliate against whole communities for quarrels with their neighbors.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Sep. 2026
  • On the new series, some House of Stassi castmembers raised their quarrels with Maloney joining their cast.
    — McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of quarrels
Noun
  • Fusion signatures face scrutiny The researchers also found temperature differences between the active reactor and a calibration device operating under comparable input-power conditions.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2026
  • In the context of Texas, these differences might not have mattered, since the Jews, like other citizens of the fast-growing state, were adept at absorbing immigrants.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of differences
Noun
  • Domestic altercations can quickly spin out of control, making them among the most dangerous types of calls.
    — Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Tchouameni and Valverde were involved in two separate altercations, a day apart, in May, with the latter taken to hospital to undergo assessments after sustaining a head injury during the second incident.
    — Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of altercations
Noun
  • The slew of events begins with a formal arrival ceremony later on Wednesday, just as a judge is expected to hear arguments in a lawsuit brought by the three news outlets the president banned from the White House last week.
    — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Prosecutors and the defense rested their cases after closing arguments concluded on Thursday.
    — Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of arguments

Browse Nearby Words

controversial
controversies
controversy
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Cite this Entry

“Controversies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controversies. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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