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
There is no apparent connection between the controversies at the CoC and the FBI’s criminal probe.
—
Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 12 May 2026
Playwright Mark Rosenblatt takes a leaf from the Peter Morgan playbook of using newsy real-life controversies with direct contemporary applicability to spark balanced drama.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
But Price’s spokesperson pushed back on efforts to frame the race primarily around ethics controversies.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 9 May 2026
The controversies leading up to the games are also quite different.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 9 May 2026
Gunty declined to discuss the Harvard and SEC controversies.
—Kenny Jacoby, USA Today, 8 May 2026
But Lyles’ nearly decade-long tenure hasn’t gone by without tests and controversies.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2026
Stress test the answer Ask about any controversies or conflicting findings around its advice.
—Sudheesha Perera, Time, 6 May 2026
The internet personality, whose real name is Braden Eric Peters, has faced multiple controversies recently, including battery charges and an apparent overdose incident at a Miami nightclub.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 12 May 2026
Playwright Mark Rosenblatt takes a leaf from the Peter Morgan playbook of using newsy real-life controversies with direct contemporary applicability to spark balanced drama.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
But Price’s spokesperson pushed back on efforts to frame the race primarily around ethics controversies.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 9 May 2026
The controversies leading up to the games are also quite different.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 9 May 2026
Gunty declined to discuss the Harvard and SEC controversies.
—Kenny Jacoby, USA Today, 8 May 2026
But Lyles’ nearly decade-long tenure hasn’t gone by without tests and controversies.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2026
Stress test the answer Ask about any controversies or conflicting findings around its advice.
—Sudheesha Perera, Time, 6 May 2026
The internet personality, whose real name is Braden Eric Peters, has faced multiple controversies recently, including battery charges and an apparent overdose incident at a Miami nightclub.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controversies
Noun
-
Democrats see it as a frivolous investigation that lays the groundwork for disputes during the midterms and sows doubts about the integrity of the state’s electoral process.—
Caleb Groves,
AJC.com,
7 May 2026
-
The agreement also settles two other disputes that have bogged down the case with appeals.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 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
-
New reports don’t end disagreements The latest raft of reporting, with mysterious figures and unexplained sounds, has not yet made a believer out of skeptic Benjamin Radford.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
-
The new restaurant takes over the former Biscuit & Hogs space, which closed amid legal disagreements.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
However, if recent debates are any indicators, this one could also become a showdown among the Democrat candidates calling out each other.—
Paris Barraza,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
-
Her tenure included the COVID-19 pandemic, protests over policing and racial justice, explosive growth, contentious debates over transit and, most recently, criticism about public safety and transparency.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
7 May 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
-
The differences between racial attitudes in America and those in Britain both pushed and pulled him out of his home country, but America needed that gift less than Britain did.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
-
Those geographic differences are evidence of a long-standing tug-of-war for water between the two rivers over millions of years—and the Yangtze appears to be the clear winner.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Paul and Mortensen had been under investigation by both the Draper City Police Department and West Jordan Police Department regarding a series of allegations each made that the other had acted violently during altercations in February, as well as an incident that took place in 2024.—
Senior Television,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
The investigations stemmed from a series of allegations, each made that the other acted violently during a series of altercations that month.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
The document filed by the Justice Department in the Los Angeles Superior Court case led by plaintiffs Todd and Kimberley Ferrier — whose Pacific Palisades home burned down — buttresses arguments made by the victims’ attorneys.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
-
Turner had an unexpected friendship with Cuban leader Fidel Castro, bonding over hunting and arguments about politics over rum and cigars.—
David Bauder,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Controversies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controversies. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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