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 That project was beset by controversies and setbacks, including Essar Steel Minnesota filing for bankruptcy in 2016. — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026 The Drivecast is The Drive‘s weekly podcast that takes you behind the scenes on the big stories, controversies, and characters shaping the automotive industry and the way our roads look today. — Kyle Cheromcha, The Drive, 24 Sep. 2026 The board then voted 5-4 to fire Hill, with the majority saying attention around recent controversies has detracted from their mission. — Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 24 Sep. 2026 This isn’t the first time that Stone has waded in on one of Sweeney’s controversies. — Clare Fisher, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026 In recent months, OpenAI has become faster at responding to public controversies. — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026 Over the last couple of years, there have been controversies involving athletes with professional experience being allowed to return to play in college. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 23 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controversies
  1. disputes
  2. disputations
  3. disagreements
  4. debates
  5. quarrels
  6. differences
  7. altercations
  8. arguments
Noun
  • Other disputes are minor, like the three animal rights activists who stole lambs from King Charles’ Sandringham estate.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 3 Oct. 2026
  • In the last year alone, the federal government partially shut down twice for weeks because of partisan disputes in Congress over spending on healthcare and immigration enforcement.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 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 economy has produced another set of disagreements, particularly over government spending, employment, and social programs.
    — Katie Angell Britannica Editors Oct. 2, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The suit also asserted Vista Grande initiated the ER trips in retaliation for the family's disagreements about Tingley's care.
    — Jordan Rau, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of disagreements
Noun
  • Hollywood is filled with book-to-screen adaptations that have ignited grumbling and spirited debates.
    — Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • While Hilton has pressed for more debates, Becerra’s campaign has yet to agree to more events.
    — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of debates
Noun
  • The overtones of social significance are adroitly handled and make real sense in an era of tragic international quarrels.
    — THR Staff, HollywoodReporter, 28 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of quarrels
Noun
  • The subtle differences by which Kyle plays older Hal versus Halogram Hal is really on sharp display in the finale.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Explaining those differences early allows a useful conversation about priorities.
    — Christoph Lymbersky, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of differences
Noun
  • Images showed altercations between police and protesters, with officers using batons to strike demonstrators, who threw barriers.
    — Joseph Wilson, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The election is taking place amid heightened political tensions in Serbia, with reports of incidents and physical altercations at campaign events.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of altercations
Noun
  • The new Type 01—revealed today in New York—will be judged by the same standards, with the arguments already begun and the marque, again, putting its future on the line.
    — Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Those decisions have been handed down after months of consideration, including oral arguments.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of arguments

Browse Nearby Words

controversial
controversies
controversy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Controversies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controversies. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of etiquette

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All